(Peru, Neb.) – The Benedictine (Kan.) Ravens topped the Peru State baseball team in the first round of the Heart of America Athletic Conference Post-Season Tournament on Thursday. The Ravens defeated the Bobcats 13-6 at the US Baseball Ballpark in Ozark, Mo., in a match-up of the fourth and fifth seeds.
 
With the win, Benedictine improved to 34-12 while the 'Cats dropped to 26-27-1.
 
Game Action
 
The Bobcats had an opportunity to score in the first inning, but left two on base.

Luis Landaeta
Luis Landaeta made a great grab and completed the play
(photo courtesy of Benedictine SID)


 
Benedictine plated two runs in the bottom of the first and never trailed after that point.
 
In the top of the second, Peru State got on the scoreboard. Jesus Tavarez (Santo Domingo, D.R.) doubled to left. After an out Josue Francisco (San Cristobal, D.R.) reached on a walk. Jose Chacin (Machiques, Venezuela) reached on a fielder's choice with Tavarez moving to third and later scoring on a wild throw. That would be the only run the 'Cats would score but it would be 2-1 at that point.
 
The Ravens added a run in the bottom of the third to extend the lead to 3-1.
 
In the top of the fourth, after two outs, Tavarez reached on a wild throw and later would go to third on a wild pitch. Xavier Wright (Calumet City, Ill.) singled to short to drive in Tavarez making the score 3-2.
 
Benedictine got that run back in the bottom of the fourth and led 4-2.
 
Peru State would score one in the top of the fifth – again after two outs. Luis Landaeta (Porlamar, Venezuela) singled to the infield and moved to second on a Raven error. Adam Cendejas (Chino Hills, Calif.) doubled to deep right-center to drive in Landaeta cutting the deficit to one at 4-3.
 
Again, the Ravens would get the run back in the bottom of the fifth to lead 5-3.
 
Benedictine would then take a commanding lead in the bottom of the seventh as they scored six runs to blow the game open at 11-3. They would add two more runs in the bottom of the eighth.
 
Peru State would try to rally in the top of the ninth, but would not plate enough runs. After an out, Francisco doubled to deep right-center. Chacin singled to shallow center to drive in Francisco. Hector Torres (Gurabo, P.R.) hit a two-run home run to deep right on a 2-1 count which would actually be the final runs of the contest.
 
The Ravens scored their 13 runs on 17 hits and committed three errors. The Bobcats scored their six runs on 12 hits and had four miscues.
 
Torres, Cendejas, and Tavarez each had two hits to lead the 'Cats. Torres was credited with two RBI while Cendejas, Wright, and Chacin each had one RBI.

Adam Cendejas
Adam Cendejas had two htis and one RBI in the loss

 
Manuel Caballero (Dolega, Panama) started the game for the Bobcats and was tagged for the loss. Caballero tossed 6.2 innings and allowed 14 hits, 11 earned runs, and struck out 3. Daniel Castillo (Barranquillo, Colombia) tossed the final 1.1 innings. Castillo gave up 3 this, 2 earned runs, and struck out 4.

BENEDICTINE GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats will face Culver-Stockton (Mo.) at 10 a.m. on Friday in an elimination game. The Wildcats lost to Baker on Thursday 21-8. With a win, the Bobcats will play again on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. against the winner between MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) (36-12) and Baker (Kan.) (19-29).