For the second straight year, Pella Christian’s softball season ends at the hands of P-C-M in Monroe in the class 2A Regional opener. Last night the Mustangs knocked off the Eagles 6-3 as P-C-M pulled away in the fourth inning with four runs.

The first two innings were a feeling out time, as both pitchers – Pella Christian’s Paige Blom and P-C-M’s McKenzie Welsh – allowed no runs. Pella Christian would strike first with an R-B-I single by Ashley Van Kooten that scored Tessa Howerzyl and also brought in Morgan Blom.

The Mustangs would get one of the runs back in the third when Brooke Earlywine was brought home on a Pella Christian error to make it 2-1. P-C-M then plated four runs in the fourth inning, started by Freshman Abbie Gilson, who blasted a homerun over the left field fence to tie the game.

After that the control issues that had troubled Paige Blom earlier in the season reared their head as she issued all four of her walks in the fourth inning and a hit batsman. An Eagle error contributed to the Mustangs leaping on top by a 5-2 count.

Both teams would score again as Paige Blom singled home Paige Engbers for the Eagles and McKenzie Welsh would bring in Stephanie Hayden on a single.

P-C-M Coach Steph Langstratt said the team came with the right attitude during pregame. Meanwhile Pella Christian Coach Nate Van Wyk said it came down to the fourth inning and that made it tough to come back.

McKenzie Welsh earned the win, going the distance in allowing three runs on four hits, four walks and five strikeouts; while Paige Blom ends her career at Pella Christian taking the loss also going the distance allowing six runs on six hits, four walks, and three strikeouts.

P-C-M improves to 15-12 on the season and will travel to Albia tonight while Pella Christian finishes up at 17-8 on the season.

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