July 01, 2025

Mustang softball rallies past Roland-Story

By Newton News

PCM sophomore Belle Hudnut, left, slides into home in a game earlier this season. The Mustangs rallied to defeat Roland-Story 7-6 on Monday night in Monroe. (Jocelyn Sheets)

MONROE — Sidney Shaver had four hits at the plate, Paige Steenhoek went the distance in the circle and Prairie City-Monroe's softball team rallied past Roland-Story, 7-6, on Monday night during Heart of Iowa Conference action.

Roland-Story led 5-2 in the fourth inning before the Mustangs scored one in the fourth and three in the sixth to get the come-from-behind win.

"It was a really gritty performance by our girls," PCM coach Shaun Hudnut said. "They took the early lead, fell behind and scored four runs over the last three frames to win the game."

PCM (3-6 overall, 3-3 in the HOIC) did lead 2-0 after one inning. Shaver and Riley Johannes both singled in the first. Both runners moved up a base on a groundout and then scored on Joslin Briles' two-run single.

In the fourth, RaeAnn Duinink doubled, went to third on a groundout and then scored on a throwing error back to the pitcher by the catcher.

Trailing 5-3 after five innings, Steenhoek pitched a scoreless top of the sixth for the Mustangs. In the bottom of the sixth, Belle Hudnut singled and took second as the ball rolled away from the shortstop. Hudnut took third on a sacrifice bunt by Duinink.

An RBI single by Riley DeVore made it 5-4. After Lark Drake reached on an error, Shaver's RBI double scored DeVore to tie it. Drake scored on Hailey Schutte's RBI bunt to give PCM a 6-5 advantage.

"We had another solid night of hitting the ball hard. We had some hard hits that went right at some people too," Hudnut said. "Sidney really had a great night and came through in bottom of the sixth for us. Then Hailey was able to get a sac bunt and give us an insurance run to work with."

Steenhoek earned the win in the circle, surrendering six runs — three earned — on 10 hits with four walks and one hit batter.

Shaver was 4-for-4 on the night with a run scored and an RBI. Briles' only hit netted a pair of runs and DeVore had one hit, one run and one RBI. Drake had one hit and scored two runs.

PCM out-hit the Norse (6-5, 3-4) 11-10. Both teams had two errors.

The Mustangs face Knoxville at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Knoxville.