Pella Christian stayed on the tight rope as long as they could, but No. 12 East Marshall was able to knock the Eagles off and out of the postseason in a 2-1 2A regional semifinals walkoff win for the Mustangs, heard live on 92.1 KRLS Friday night.

The Eagles opened with the first run of the game on a two-out RBI single by Cheyanne Collins after a double by Natalie Harrill — that would be the only scoring Collins would need until the 7th inning. After the Eagles scored 26 combined runs in their wins over Pleasantville and No. 14 I-35, it was a pitcher’s duel, with several daring escapes by the P.C. defense, who stranded and threw out a combined nine Mustangs — many of whom were in prime scoring position, but couldn’t find home plate safely.

Pella Christian held onto a 1-0 lead going into the 7th, despite squandering three different lead-off base runners of their own, which later proved to be missed chances and would have been needed insurance runs.

East Marshall loaded the bases with three consecutive one-out singles, all of which barely left the infield. A hit batter by Collins and a walk-off line drive was all it took, and in a matter of minutes, Pella Christian went from two outs away from pulling off the road upset to having the 2020 summer season end.

Collins finished with 6 ⅓ innings and two earned runs, scattering six hits and three walks, and struck out eight Mustangs. Pella Christian finishes the 2020 season at 10-9 overall, and says farewell to Collins, Emerson Sarver, Sierra Pleima, and Chloe Morgan, all of whom were multiple-year starters for the program.