Mt. Pleasant softball comes oh, so close

MT. PLEASANT — The Panther girls softball team had a potential first conference win in its grasps. Mt. Pleasant led by four runs early and had a chance to win late in Game 2 of Monday night’s Southeast Conference doubleheader against Keokuk, but the Panthers came up one run short.

After rolling 9-1 in Game 1, Keokuk outlasted Mt. Pleasant 10-9 in an eight-inning Game 2.

“They’re making plays, and they’re getting better,” said Panther head coach Mike Beason. “I think the whole team is getting better.”

Mt. Pleasant held a 6-2 lead after two innings and looked in position to potentially win its first SEC game since 2019, but Keokuk’s bats helped the Chiefs get back in it.

Mt. Pleasant’s advantage was down to 7-5 after three innings, and Keokuk scored four in the sixth to go up 9-7 with just an inning and a half to play.

In the sixth, Savana Walls scored on a double steal to cut the Keokuk lead to 9-8. Later on, Kynlee White came up clutch, sending a two-out RBI single to center field to knot the game back up.

Tied 9-9, Mt. Pleasant had a chance to win it in the bottom of the seventh, but Keokuk ace Ava Wood came in to pitch in relief after dominating the Panthers in Game 1. She would hold Mt. Pleasant scoreless over the last two at bats, and Keokuk put one run up in the eighth.

“We were one play short, or maybe one player,” said Beason. “She’s pretty good.”

Saige Burchett knocked in four runs for Mt. Pleasant. Ella McNamee was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Addison Clark knocked in a pair, and Emma Star went 3-for-4.

Myah Starr and McNamee both pitched for Mt. Pleasant in Game 2.

McNamee and Jordan Crooks both pitched in the Game 1 loss. White went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and a run scored, and Clark went 2-for-2 with an RBI double.

Mt. Pleasant is now 1-8 overall and 0-6 in the conference. They’ll play at Burlington (5-2, 3-0) on Thursday.