Bobcats sweep Dakota State behind late rally in Game 1, early power surge in Game 2
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAK | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| PER | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | X | 8 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAK | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| PER | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | X | 9 |
Peru State opened Saturday’s doubleheader with a comeback and closed it with authority, sweeping Dakota State with an 8-6 win in Game 1 and a 9-1 victory in Game 2. The decisive swing of the day came in the opener, when the Bobcats pushed across three runs in the sixth inning to erase a one-run deficit and reclaim control after Dakota State had surged ahead in the third.
Game 1 had the back-and-forth feel of a team refusing to let momentum get away. Peru State scored twice in the first, with Gracey Meinert doubling during the early push, then added three more runs in the third to build what looked like a strong cushion. Dakota State answered with a five-run third inning, highlighted by Quincy Hartley’s three-run home run, and briefly took a 6-5 lead. The Trojans also benefited from extra pressure in the inning, including an unearned run after Emmalynn Rabe reached on an error and later scored during the rally.
The Bobcats answered when the game tightened most. In the sixth, Jami Mans delivered an RBI single, Meinert added another run-scoring hit, and Peru State plated a third run on a passed ball to move back in front 8-6. Meinert turned in a standout opener, going for three hits, three RBIs and two runs, while Eva Schultz added three hits, an RBI and a run. Peru State finished with 11 hits in the opener, weathered Dakota State’s 11-hit effort, and got the win in relief from Melanie Hughes as the pitching staff closed out the final innings.
The second game looked much different. Peru State wasted no time putting the doubleheader out of reach, scoring five runs in the first inning and four more in the second to build a 9-0 lead. Kaylee Spreer supplied the first big blow with a three-run homer in the opening inning, and Meinert struck again in the second with a four-RBI home run that blew the game open. In two games, Meinert was at the center of nearly every major offensive moment, delivering key extra-base hits, run production and timely contact all afternoon.
Hughes took over from there in Game 2 and controlled the circle from start to finish. She worked all five innings, allowed one run on four hits and struck out seven as the Bobcats completed the run-rule win. Dakota State’s lone run came on a Hannah McFarland RBI single in the third, but Peru State did not allow anything larger to develop. The Bobcats were clean defensively in the second game, committed no errors and left only one runner on base while piling up nine hits.
Played under clear skies in the Papillion-La Vista area, with temperatures in the mid-50s and a steady breeze, the sweep gave Peru State a complete day of production. The Bobcats showed they could win a tight game with a late rally in the opener, then backed it up with power, pitching and clean defense in the nightcap. By the end of the doubleheader, Peru State had scored 17 runs, collected 20 hits and sent a clear message with both resilience and force.
uReport has been approved for inclusion in the ISTE+ASCD EdTech Index, a trusted resource used by educators to discover high-quality digital learning tools. As part of this process, uReport was reviewed and vetted for its alignment with effective teaching and learning practices, including support for authentic learning, digital citizenship, and responsible use of AI. uReport has also earned 1EdTech TrustEd Apps certification for Data Privacy.
