Softball Picks Up 2 Commanding Wins over Peru State

(Peru, NE) – The Hastings Broncos took on the Peru State College Bobcats in a double-header on Tuesday, securing a dominant 9-1 victory in game one and following it up with a commanding 5-0 win in game two.

In the opening inning, the Broncos made a strong statement as senior Lauren Schneider swiftly stole third base and sophomore Kaylee Pinneo quickly followed suit to second base upon getting on base. Junior Ana Medeiros then delivered a crucial hit, enabling Schneider and Pinneo to cross home plate and secure an early 2-0 lead for Hastings College.

Continuing the Broncos' momentum, in the top of the second inning, senior Nicole Halsey drove in a run with a single, enabling freshman Gracey Graf to touch home plate. Schneider scored an unearned run off junior Ana Medeiros walk. Pinneo also got a hit which allowed Halsey to score another run for the Broncos to go up 6-0.

In the top of the third inning, Pinneo doubled in two runs, which Schneider advanced to third, and scored senior Isabel Tanabe and Halsey, making it an 8-0 Bronco lead. Soon after, freshman Sofia Carroll walked with the bases loaded, scoring Schneider to make it 9-0. 

In the bottom of the third, the Peru State Bobcats got on the board with a run scored off of an RBI, making the score 9-1. After five innings, the Broncos captured a 9-1 run-rule win over the Bobcats.

The second game got off to a quiet start, with the score deadlocked at 0-0 through the initial five innings. The Broncos' offense began to pick up momentum in the top of the sixth inning, with Pinneo hitting a double and Schneider scoring the first run of the game to go up 1-0.

The Broncos stole the show in the top of the seventh inning with Graf's impressive steal of second base. Sophomore Maggie McClain reached on a fielder's choice, Graf advanced to third, and Kappler scored the second run, making it 2-0. 

Storesund maintained the momentum in the top of the seventh inning, driving in Graf with an RBI to extend the lead to 3-0. With the bases loaded, Pinneo came to bat and hit a line drive to the left field, allowing Halsey to touch home plate for the Broncos' third run of the inning, bringing the score to 4-0. Following this, Lee delivered an RBI hit, bringing Storesund diving home and adding to the Broncos' lead with a 5-0 advantage.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Bobcats had an opportunity to counter the Broncos' lead. However, the Broncos' defense proved to be formidable, shutting down any potential comeback. Following a thrilling seventh inning, Hastings College emerged victorious with a 5-0 win over Peru State College, securing a 2-0 lead in the series.

Coming up next, the Hastings College Broncos will face off against the Dordt Defenders on Friday, March 21st, in Sioux Center, IA at 4pm.