(Peru, Neb.) – In the first of a pair of double headers which were to have been played in Peru, the Bobcat baseball team split with Mount Mercy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Saturday. The four-game series was moved due to the weather forecast of high winds in southeast Nebraska which was definitely the case on Saturday.
 
The 'Cats dropped the first game 10-4, but came back to win in convincing fashion 14-1 in the second game.
 
Mount Mercy is now 14-5 overall and 2-2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North Division while Peru State is 4-13 on the season and also 2-2 in the Heart North.
 
First Game Action
 
The Mustangs struck first in the top of the first inning as they plated five runs.


 The Bobcats would get on the board in the bottom of the inning. Hector Torres (Gurabo, Puerto Rico) reached on an error and scored when Luis Landaeta (Porlamar, Venezuela) singled to center. At the end of one, it was Mount Mercy 5 – Peru State 1.
 
Mount Mercy added one in the top of the inning to extend its lead to 6-1. The 'Cats would add one in the bottom of the inning. After an out, Xavier Wright (Calumet City, Ill.) doubled to deep left-center and would go to third on a wild throw. On a sac fly from Manuel Caballero (Dolega, Panama), Wright would score to cut the lead to 6-2.
 
The Mustangs would plate two in the top of the fourth and the top of the fifth for their final runs of the game. At that point they led 10-2.
 
Peru State would add a run in the bottom of the fifth. Torres reached on an error and went to third when Landaeta singled down the right field line. After an out, Jackson Tingwald (Ralston) hit a sac fly to score Torres to make it 10-3.
 
The Bobcats would score their final run in the bottom of the seventh. Jose Chacin (Machiques, Venezuela) singled up the middle. Tyler Levy (Nebraska City) entered to run for Chacin and went to third when Torres doubled down the left field line. After an out, Adam Cendejas (Chino Hills, Calif.) hit a sac fly to bring home Levy for the final run of the game.
 
Mount Mercy scored their ten runs on 11 hits and committed three errors. Peru State scored their four runs on eight hits and did not have any errors.
 
Landaeta went two for four to lead Peru State. Landaeta, Cendejas, Tingwald, and Caballero each had one RBI. 

 
Jose Diana (Santa Isabel, P.R.) was the losing pitcher as he was only able to get one out. Diana allowed just one hit, but allowed five earned runs. Daniel Castillo (Barranquilla, Columbia) threw 3.2 innings. Castillo gave up 5 hits, 3 earned runs, and struck out 4. Juan Rodriguez (Bayamon, P.R.) tossed 2 innings. Rodriguez allowed 4 hits, 2 earned runs, and struck out 3. Luis Pacheco (Miami, Fla.) tossed the final inning. Pacheco gave up 1 hit and struck out 2.

MOUNT MERCY GAME ONE BOX SCORE
 
Game Two Action
 
Mount Mercy got on the board with its only run in the top of the first inning.
 
Peru State would score all the runs they would need in the bottom of the first. Torres singled to center and moved to second when Landaeta laid down a sac bunt. Cendejas singled to right with Torres advancing to third. Tingwald reached on a walk to load the bases. Jose Solis (Los Santos, Panama) singled up the middle to tie the score and keep the bases loaded. On a wild pitch, Cendejas scored to make it 2-1. Jesus Tavarez (Santo Domingo, D.R.) hit a three-run home run over the left field fence on a 1-2 count to make it 5-1. Wright reached on a walk and then stole second. Caballero singled to center to drive in Wright to put the score at 6-1.
 
The 'Cats would add a run in the bottom of the fourth. After an out, Torres reached on a walk and then stole second. On a wild pitch, Torres moved to third. Landaeta hit a sac fly which scored Torres to put the score at 7-1.
 
The Bobcats would break the game wide open in the bottom of the fifth. Solis was hit by a pitch with Jeremy Santiago (Ponce, P.R.) entering to pinch run for Soli. After an out, Wright singled to left with Santiago moving to second. Caballero singled to right to drive in Santiago with Wright moving to third. Gustavo Rivera (Bayamon, P.R.) singled to center to drive in Wright with Caballero stopping at second. Levy entered to run for Rivera and Josue Francisco (San Cristobal, D.R.) entered to run for Caballero. After a pitching change, Torres singled to right-center to drive in Francisco with Levy moving to third. Landaeta followed with a single to center with Levy scoring and Torres staying at second. After an out, Tingwald singled to center. On the play, Torres and Landaeta both scored on an error to put the score at 13-1.
 
Peru State would add one more run in the bottom of the sixth. Tavarez started the inning by doubling to deep left and went to third on a wild throw. Wright and Caballero both reached on a walk. Tavarez would eventually score on a wild pitch for the final run of the game.


 
The 'Cats scored their 14 runs on 14 hits and did not commit any errors. Mount Mercy scored their one run on four hits and committed two errors.
 
Torres, Cendejas, Tavarez, and Caballero each had two hits to lead Peru State. Tavarez was credited with three RBI while Landaeta and Caballero each added two RBI.
 
Steven Ortiz (Yonkers, N.Y.) was on the mound and pitched a complete game for the win. Ortiz allowed just four hits, one earned run, and struck out nine.
 
MOUNT MERCY GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Upcoming Games
 
Peru State and Mount Mercy are playing another double header on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.
 
The Bobcats are scheduled to host Graceland (Iowa) on Tuesday in a double header beginning at 1 p.m. if Mother Nature permits it. The Yellowjackets are 4-9 on the year and 1-3 in the Heart North.
 
On Thursday, March 25, the 'Cats are scheduled to be in Crete to take on non-conference opponent Doane in a double header beginning at 1 p.m. The Tigers are off to a 13-7 mark in 2021.