Early deficit too much for PCM against No. 6 Solon

SOLON — Senior Jaiden Rogers hit a three-run home run to cut the Prairie City-Monroe softball team’s deficit in half, but the Mustangs couldn’t complete the comeback in a season-ending 6-4 loss to sixth-ranked Solon during Class 3A Region 7 semifinal action.

The Spartans scored four runs in the fourth and went up 6-0 with two more in the sixth. Rogers made it 6-3 in the sixth and then PCM plated its final run on an error in the seventh.

Solon (30-12) hosts its regional final game against No. 9 Albia on Monday.

Sophomore Anna Shaver went 3-for-3 including a double and a run scored for the Mustangs, who capped their season at 17-13.

The other three hits came from senior Katie Vande Wall, junior Madison Foster and Rogers.

Rogers’ second homer of the season netted three RBIs and freshman Regan Freland scored the fourth run as a pinch runner for Foster in the seventh.

“We had seven or eight hard-hit balls that were right at people,” PCM coach Scott Bridges said. “That was the difference in the game to me. We only struck out twice.”

Senior Kayla Jennings (13-9) took the loss in the circle after allowing six earned runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts and one walk.