Thursday, April 29, the Park softball team faced Peru State College for a double header. The two-game series was scheduled to be played at Park Softball complex at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. but weather conditions moved the teams to the Creekside Baseball Park in Parkville.

Park lost the first game of the series 4-2 as Peru State found holes early on, scoring two runs off of three hits in the top of the second. Sophomore pitcher Adrianna Solary held the opposing team until the top of the fourth, when Peru State had two singles to center that brought in one run, advancing the lead 3-0.

In the top of the sixth inning, freshman Carmen Miller relieved Solary after she walked a batter. Peru State hit a single through a hole at second base, advancing a runner to third who would end up scoring on a wild throw, making it 4-0, Peru State.

Park came out hot in the bottom of the sixth inning, earning three hits and two runs. Unfortunately, the two tying runs were left on base after a ground out to short stop.

There were no runs scored in the final inning. The game ended 4-2 Peru State.

The second game of the series had more action on both sides of the ball. Miller was the starting pitcher for Park. On a 3-2 count for the first batter of the game, Miller gave up a homerun to deep left field. It was followed by a triple, and two other hits given up in the top of the first. It looked as though Peru State had kept their momentum from game one.

However, Park answered in the bottom of the first. A double, hit by freshman catcher Kali Day, scored freshman infielder Macee Austin, who had been walked. Following that, a single from freshman infielder Meggen Keller scored Day, and a double from junior pitcher Lexie Duncan scored Keller. The first inning ended with three hits and three runs from Park, tying the game at 3-3.

After a walk by Miller, Duncan came out to pitch in the top of the second. A sacrifice fly brought in another run for Peru State, taking the lead again, 4-3, but Park managed to end the inning with good defense in the outfield. Yet again, Park answered Peru State’s run with one of their own in the bottom of the inning. It was tied 4-4 going into the third.

With a scoreless half-inning by Peru State, Park had the chance to grab the lead in the bottom of the third. Duncan singled through a hole at second base, followed by a single from sophomore infielder Alyssa Ramirez to center to move Duncan to third. Freshman utility player Lexie Schroeder reached on a walk, and the bases were loaded. Junior outfielder Hillary Protzman’s single to center brought Duncan home, advanced Ramirez to third and sent Schroeder to second. A single from Austin brought home Ramirez and Schroeder, putting Park up 7-4.

Peru State was scoreless the rest of the game, and Park earned another two runs in the fourth inning. The score wouldn’t change again, and the game ended after seven, at 9-4 for Park University.

After the series with Peru State, the Pirates went on to lose two games against Evangel University on April 30 and win two against Missouri Valley College on May 1. The team finished the season with a 10-32 record.