OZARK, MO - The Peru State baseball team took on the William Penn Statesman on Thursday, May 2, in the Heart of America Athletic Conference tournament. The Bobcats fell in round one in a close nine-inning game 5-4.
 
The Bobcats had a slow start, as the Statesman scored two runs in both the second and third innings. The Bobcats scored their first runs in the third inning after Garrett Pavletich hit a double down the left field line that scored Antonio Benitez and Will Reynolds. In the sixth inning, Randy Jimenez had a hit that scored Efrain Torres. Antonio Benitez knocked in the final run for the Bobcats after hitting a home run to left field.
 
Kevin Diaz started for the Bobcats and pitched for 5.1 innings. Diaz was charged with 11 hits and five Statesman runs but had four strikeouts. Dylan Pavletich pitched 2.2 innings and allowed only one hit and had one strikeout. Garrett Pavletich pitched one inning with one strikeout.

The loss meant PSC would play an elimination game against Baker next.

 

The Peru State Baseball team took on the Baker Wildcats in the first round of elimination games of the Heart conference tournament. The Bobcats scored 19 runs to beat the Wildcats 19-9.
 
The Bobcats scored the first run of the game in the first inning after a double down the right field line by Wesley Bradford sending Gustavo Rivera in to score. In the second inning, Will Reynolds hit a single to left field to score Xavier Solla. The Bobcats had a big fourth inning, scoring five runs. Gustavo Rivera hit a single to score Xavier Solla and advance Josue Cisnero. Cisnero then scored on a Wildcat error. Wesley Bradford was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Gustavo Rivera. Efrain Torres reached first on a fielder's choice, allowing Antonio Benitez to score. Angel Andrades singled to right center sending Garrett Pavletich in.
 
The Bobcats continued their run through the fifth and sixth innings as Antonio Benitez singled to send Will Reynolds home. Gustavo Rivera scored on a wild pitch, and Antonio Benitez scored on a single by Wesley Bradford in the fifth inning. In the sixth, Garrett Pavletich was walked with the bases loaded, scoring Xavier Solla. Wesley Bradford also hit a single to plate Gustavo Rivera.
 
Later in the sixth, Wesley Bradford reached first on a fielder's choice, allowing Antonio Benitez and Will Reynolds to score on Wildcat errors. Efrain Torres hit a double down the left field line scoring Garrett Pavletich. Angel Andrades doubled to send Wesley Bradford across the plate. Doel Pina scored after a single to left field by Xavier Solla. Garrett Pavletich scored the final run for the Bobcats after Wesley Bradford hit a double to left center.
 
Diego Oquendo pitched five innings for the Bobcats, allowing seven hits and four runs but had five Wildcat strikeouts. Blake Denson pitched 2.1 innings and allowed two hits and five runs but having two strikeouts. Dylan Pavletich pitched 1.2 innings having three strikeouts and only allowing one hit.
 
The Bobcats advanced to take on the MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers on Saturday night at 8:30 pm.

 

The Peru State baseball team fell in an elimination game against the MidAmerica Pioneers in the Heart of America Conference tournament, 12-8, to end their year.
 
The Bobcats started out slow as the Pioneers jumped out to a 10-0 lead. In the sixth inning, the Bobcats scored their first runs starting with a double by Wesley Bradford scoring Antonio Benitez. Efrain Torres also hit a double that scored Wesley Bradford which was followed by a single by Josue Cisnero, scoring Torres.
 
The team continued to close the gap in the seventh inning. Garrett Pavletich hit a double down the left field line allowing Gustavo Rivera to score. Antonio Benitez followed, scoring on a Pioneer error. Garrett Pavletich also scored on an error in the seventh. Blake Denson scored the last run of the game for the Bobcats after Will Reynolds hit a single to center field.
 
Casey Ogden started pitching for the Bobcats and went for 2.2 innings. Ogden allowed six hits and six runs but had three strikeouts against the Pioneers. Tobin Wingender pitched one inning for the Bobcats, allowing two hits and two runs but he also had two strikeouts. Brenton Pitt pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing two hits and two runs. Dylan Pavletich pitched one inning, allowing two hits and two runs. Garrett Pavletich pitched two innings, recording three strikeouts.

The Bobcats end their season with a record of 20-31 overall.