March 29, 2024

PCM softball closes regular season with win over STC

MONROE — A fast start and big night scoring runs with two outs helped Prairie City-Monroe's softball team to a win in its regular-season finale on Monday night.

The Mustangs scored all six of their runs in the first three innings and plated five with two outs during a 6-3 non-conference win over South Tama County.

"It was a great game to end the regular season," PCM coach Shaun Hudnut said. "Paige pitched well and the defense made plays behind her. I was glad to see some mental toughness in some important spots."

Paige Steenhoek earned the win in the circle for the Mustangs. She went the distance, allowing one earned run on four hits with three strikeouts, two hit batters and one walk.

PCM (5-14) got on the board with a run in the first inning. Sidney Shaver singled and Hailey Schutte was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on passed balls and then an RBI groundout by Steenhoek scored Shaver from third.

A two-run second inning featured a two-out, two-run single by Shaver, who finished with two hits, two RBIs, one hit by pitch and one run. Rae Ann Duinink doubled and Lark Drake walked in front of Shaver's base hit.

The Mustangs added three in the third to go up 6-1 on the Trojans (3-20). Riley DeVore tripled with one out and then scored on Belle Hudnut's two-out RBI double.

An RBI single by Drake scored Duinink, who reached on an error. Hudnut scored on a throwing error that came during a delayed steal by Duinink.

"We had some timely hitting tonight," Coach Hudnut said. "It was good to see the bottom half of the lineup continue to produce runs for us."

Schutte, DeVore, Belle Hudnut, Duinink and Drake had the other five hits for PCM. Schutte also walked and was hit by a pitch, Hudnut and Drake had one RBI apiece and DeVore, Hudnut, Duinink and Drake all scored one run.

Drake also walked once and Steenhoek had an RBI.

The Mustangs face Nevada (10-8) in the first round of the Class 3A postseason at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in Nevada.

The Cubs are 2-0 against PCM this season but both wins were by a combined four runs. Nevada has lost six of its last eight games, too.