On Thursday, March 31, the Peru State softball team split with the York Panthers in a doubleheader that took place under the lights. The Bobcats are now 8-11 overall; the Panthers are now 7-23 on the year.
Below is a breakdown of how each game went…
Game 1
The Bobcats started the first inning after one out with a pair of walks from Payton Beckmann (Syracuse) and Morgan Wilkie. (Bakersfield, Calif.) Beckmann used her speed to steal two bases as the 'Cats threatened with runners on the corners.
Then a perfectly executed double steal scored the first run of the game for the Bobcats. Later in the inning a Jerica German (Cortland) double and a Jessye Rowland (Pearcy, Ark.) triple sent two Peru State runners' home as they took an early 3-0 lead. The 'Cats scored three runs on two hits and left one on base in the first.
York started the first game hot as well with a leadoff single. Then after a stolen bag another single would put Panther runners on the corners. A second stolen base of the inning put York runners in scoring position.
A sac fly to right would put the Panthers within two as they now trailed 3-1. Then a single on the next at-bat would make the score 3-2. York scored two runs on three hits and left one on.
Both teams would go three up and three down in the second inning. Beckmann drew a leadoff walk in the top of third and stole second for her fourth stolen base of game one.
Then Carli Kohout (Cortland) singled as the 'Cats doubled up the Panthers leading 4-2. Peru State scored one run on one hit and left one on.
York started the home half of the third inning with a leadoff double, then the Panther baserunner stole third as she was 60-feet away from the plate. Then a triple scored the runner from third. A single on the next at-bat would tie the game at four apiece.
Later in the bottom of the third a sac fly would give the Panthers the lead. York scored three runs on four hits and left one on in the inning.
The Bobcats went down in order in the top of the fourth. The Panthers tried to get a two out rally going with a single. The base runner would then steal second and advance to third on a wild pitch, but no damage was done. York scored no runs on one hit and left one on.
Wilkie hit a double with two outs in the top of the fifth and then Kohout reached on an error as Wilkie would come into tie the game at five. German then blasted one over the left field fence as the 'Cats took a 7-5 lead. Peru State scored three runs on two hits an error and left no one on base.
Then the Panthers drew a leadoff walk but were not able to get anything offensively in the home half.
Carlye Rothschild (Eros, La.) started the sixth with a leadoff double. Then Mya Mathes (Ankeny, Iowa) singled scoring Rothschild as the 'Cats now led 8-5. The Bobcats scored one run on two hits and left no one on.
The Panthers were able to get one runner on base via a hit by pitch to start the inning but nothing after that. York had no runs on no hits and left one on.
Peru State went 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh inning. York started the seventh with a leadoff single and she advanced to second via a throwing error. The Panthers would not score as Wilkie made an incredible double play as she threw a rope to third to end the game.
Cheyenne Leach (Wymore) pitched a complete game as she struck out ten batters giving up five runs on nine hits. All five runs were earned. Leach earned the win.
German led the way in hits and RBIs in game one as she had two hits and three RBIs.
Game 2
Ellie Ohlde (Fairbury) started the second game with a leadoff single and then got 60-feet away from the plate by way of a stolen bag and an error. Later in the inning Kohout walked as the 'Cats threatened with runners on the corners. Peru State unfortunately could not capitalize as they had no runs on one hit and left two on.
York also started the second game with a leadoff single but then a double play would leave the Panthers to their final out in the inning. Two singles in a row had York threatening with runners in scoring position.
Then a single sent two Panther runners' home to open the scoring in game two. York scored two runs on five hits and left two on in the first
Mathes hit a two out single in the top of the second but the 'Cats were unable to get anything going offensively. The Panthers started the second with a walk and a single as they had runners on first and second.
A sac fly to center field would score the third run of the game for the Panthers. York scored one run on two hits and left two on base.
Peru State went three up three down in the top of the third inning. York started the bottom half with a leadoff walk. Then a one out single would have the Panthers threatening with runners on first and second.
The Bobcat defense bowed up as no damage was done. The Panthers scored no runs on one hit and left two on.
The fourth inning the 'Cats went down in order. In the bottom of the fourth the Panthers hit a one out single and then the base runner advanced to second on a wild pitch. Later in the inning a throwing error would score another Panther runner as they now led 4-0. York scored one run on one hit an error and left two on.
Maddie Howard (Council Bluffs, Iowa) hit a two out single in the fifth but the 'Cats just could not get the bats going all game. Peru State scored no runs on one hit and left one on.
In the bottom of the fifth the Panthers drew a walk and hit a single with one out. A second single in the inning scored two runs due to a couple of errors as they now led 6-0. Then a productive ground out had the Panthers up 7-0. York scored two runs on two hits an error and left no one on.
The Bobcats threatened in the sixth from a Wilkie single and a Leach walk but again were unable to capitalize and left the runners stranded.
York drew two walks after one out in the sixth inning; after a fielder's choice the Panthers had runners on the corners. Then a third walk of the inning loaded the bases for York. A fielder's choice and an error would end the game as the Panthers scored their eighth run of the game and won 8-0.
Layla Worthington (Holladay, Utah) pitched 4.1 innings striking out two batters giving up four runs on nine hits but only three were earned. She would take the loss. Bailey Bitz (Ravenna) pitched 1.2 innings giving up four runs on two hits but only one was earned.
Howard, Mathes, Ohlde, Rowland and Wilkie all tied for the lead in hits with one each.
The Bobcats had a busy weekend in Missouri as they travel to take on Evangel on Saturday, April 2, and Missouri Valley Sunday, April 3. First pitch is at 1:00 each day.
Original source can be found here.
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