Mustangs' season ends after regional loss to Nevada

NEVADA — RaeAnn Duinink hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, but PCM’s softball team struggled in a pair of innings during a 12-9 loss in Class 3A Region 4 quarterfinal action on July 15.

Nevada led 6-1 after one inning and plated five runs in the bottom of the fourth to pull away for good. The Cubs play in the regional semifinals on Friday.

"It would have been easy to give up after the first inning," PCM coach Shaun Hudnut said. "I was proud of how our girls responded. They battled every pitch and at-bat tonight."

The Mustangs closed the gap to 6-5 after two innings and scored a pair of runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings but fell short against the Cubs for the third time this season.

PCM (5-15) went 0-3 against Nevada (11-8) this summer but all three games were decided by three runs or less.

"A lot of learning and growth happened throughout this short, different season," Hudnut said. "At no point did they give up or we felt we were out of a game. They really hit the ball well all season."

Duinink finished with three hits, including a double and her first varsity homer, scored a pair of runs and had two RBIs.

Riley Johannes tallied three hits, including a double, four RBIs and one run scored. Belle Hudnut added one hit, two runs and two walks and Hailey Schutte chipped in two hits and one run.

Sidney Shaver finished with one hit, two runs and one RBI and Lark Drake doubled, walked once and scored a run.

The Mustangs scored one in the top of the first inning. Shaver and Johannes both singled and Paige Steenhoek's RBI double made it 1-0.

Nevada answered with six runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Cubs had five hits but only two of the six runs were earned.

The four-run second for PCM included a two-run double by Johannes. Nevada also committed a couple errors.

A two-run single by Johannes in the fourth put the Mustangs in front 7-6.

The Cubs went back ahead with a five-run fourth inning. Three of those runs were unearned and Nevada was given two walks.

PCM's final two runs came on Duinink's two-run dinger in the fifth.

Steenhoek (4-6) took the loss in the circle, allowing 12 runs — five earned — on nine hits with five walks and three strikeouts.

PCM 6, STC 3

MONROE — A fast start and big night scoring runs with two outs helped PCM to a win in its regular-season finale on July 13.

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," Coach Hudnut said. "Paige pitched well and the defense made plays behind her. I was glad to see some mental toughness in some important spots."

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 got on the board with a run in the first inning. Shaver singled and 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. Duinink doubled and 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.