PCM softball shuts out West Marshall, cruises past Perry

MONROE — A strong performance in the circle by Rylee Parsons and a standout effort from the defense led the PCM softball team to a shutout win over West Marshall on Friday.

The Mustangs could only muster two runs on their eight hits, but Parsons surrendered just three hits and the defense played an error-free game during a 2-0 home win in Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference play.

“Pitching and defense carried us tonight as we just couldn’t get the bats rolling,” PCM head softball coach Shaun Hudnut said. “We were out front and reaching for pitches. We ended up with eight hits, but it just didn’t feel like we made the in-game adjustments to break it open.”

PCM (5-3 overall, 4-1 in the HOIAC) scored one run every third inning against the Trojans.

In the third, Addison Steenhoek hit a two-out double to right-center field and a single by Riley Johannes moved courtesy runner Addi Hudut to third base.

Paige Steenhoek’s RBI single up the middle plated Hudnut and gave PCM a 1-0 lead.

Joslin Briles and Tori Lindsay both reached base on errors in the sixth. RaeAnn Duinink made it 2-0 when her RBI single to right field scored pinch runner Reese Palm, who was making her season debut.

Addison Steenhoek, Paige Steenhoek and Johannes all finished with two hits. Addison doubled, Johannes walked once and Paige drove in one run.

Duinink registered one hit and one RBI, Ella Schendel collected one hit, Sidney Shaver walked once and Addi Hudnut and Palm both scored one run.

Parsons (5-3) allowed three hits and no runs over seven innings, and she struck out five and walked none.

West Marshall (3-6, 1-4) was plagued by two errors.

“Parsons controlled (West Marshall’s) lineup,” Coach Hudnut said. “She was really dialed into her off-speed and breaking stuff tonight. She came through with two big strikeouts after a leadoff single in the top of the seventh.

“I really like where our defense is starting to go. The girls are really doing a great job in each of their positions. (Briles) keeps improving the little things each game at first (base), taking over for Lark (Drake). We need her to keep that trajectory moving up and improving each day.”

PCM 12, Perry 2, five innings

PERRY — Duinink homered, seven Mustangs had at least one hit and PCM routed Perry on Wednesday during HOIAC play.

The Mustangs scored 10 runs in the first two innings and ended things early against the Lady Jays. PCM handed Perry its first loss following a 12-2, five-inning victory.

“It was a good bounce-back win tonight,” Coach Hudnut said. “We came out aggressively and attacked good pitches early in the game.”

PCM out-hit Perry 13-3 and the Lady Jays (4-3, 3-2) committed three errors. The Mustangs led 4-0 after one and plated six in the second.

Perry’s two runs came in the second, but PCM ended the game after five following single runs in the fourth and fifth.

Briles and Lindsay each had three hits to lead the PCM offense. Briles laced two doubles, scored three runs, tallied three RBIs and was hit by one pitch and Lindsay doubled, scored one run, drove in two and stole one base.

Parsons struck out a season-high 10 batters over five innings and got the win in the circle. She allowed two earned runs on three hits with two walks.

“Parsons controlled the game from the circle,” Coach Hudnut said.

Paige Steenhoek and Addison Steenhoek each finished with two hits. Paige added two runs and one RBI and Addison tripled, scored one run and walked once.

Paige Steenhoek now leads the team with 10 runs scored.

Johannes, Duinink and Schendel all had one hit. Duinink hit a two-run home run in the second after missing on a bunt attempt earlier in the at-bat.

Johannes doubled and had one RBI and was hit by one pitch. It was Schendel’s season debut and Addi Hudnut added a pair of runs.

Shaver walked once and scored two runs and she was hit by a pitch. She ranks second on the team with eight runs scored.

The four-run first inning included RBI hits by Paige Steenhoek and Briles. Two runs also scored on a Perry error.

In the six-run second, Briles and Lindsay belted two-run doubles to left field and Duinink smashed the two-run homer.

An RBI double by Briles plated the run in the fourth and Addison Steenhoek tripled and scored on an RBI double by Johannes in the fifth.

Chariton 6, PCM 1

CHARITON — A five-run first inning held up for Class 3A No. 14 Chariton against PCM on Tuesday.

The Mustangs were limited to three hits and they committed two errors during a 6-1 non-conference road loss.

“Chariton came out swinging and put us in a quick 5-0 hole after the first inning,” Coach Hudnut said. “We adjusted and were able to hold them to two hits and one unearned run the rest of the way.”

Shaver and Addison Steenhoek both doubled, Shaver added an RBI and Skylar Burns finished with one hit and one run to lead the Mustangs’ offense.

Lindsay was hit by a pitch and Duinink walked once. They both stole one base.

“Braby (Chariton pitcher) is tough,” Hudnut said. “She doesn’t overwhelm you with speed. She just spins it well and places pitches accurately. We put the bat on the ball all night. We just missed squaring them up.”

Parsons tossed all six innings and allowed six runs — five earned — on eight hits with three strikeouts, two walks and one hit batter.

PCM scored its run in the third. Chariton 9-0) stayed unbeaten with a five-run first and a one-run fifth.

Burns reached on an infield single in the third and then scored from first on an RBI double by Shaver.

“These are the types of teams we want to see in non-conference play,” Coach Hudnut said. “It’s an opportunity to see where we are, where we need to improve and gain valuable experience against a quality pitcher and team.”