Panther softball goes 2-2 in IC

IOWA CITY - The 12th-ranked Mt. Pleasant softball team laid down the gauntlet this weekend to end the regular season. The Panthers went 2-2 in games at a tournament at the Iowa City softball complex.

On Friday, Mt. Pleasant lost a 9-8 battle against Benton but defeated Davenport North 8-1. On Saturday, the Panthers lost 12-0 against (5A) No. 9 Muscatine 12-0 in four innings, and defeated Iowa City West 10-1.

Mt. Pleasant's game against Benton was a wild one. After trailing 1-0 after the top of the first, the Panthers scored two in the first, one in the third and three in the fifth to take a 6-1 advantage. Benton re-took the lead with a six-run sixth, going up 7-6. Mt. Pleasant tied the game in their half of the sixth, tying it at 8-8. In the seventh, Benton scored two and Mt. Pleasant put up one.

The Panthers tallied 16 hits in the loss, with seven different players having multi-hit games. Sydni Coleman was 2-4 with a triple, a double and two RBIs. Savana Walls went 2-4 with a double and two RBIs. Ava Lowery was 2-4 with two RBIs, Makayla Cam went 2-4 with a double. Hannah Newman went 2-4 with an RBI. Trinity Krabill was 2-5 with a double, and Lyndi Vantiger went 2-5.

Coleman was on the mount for all seven innings. She gave up nine runs (five earned) on 13 hits, while striking out two batters.

The Panthers dominated Davenport North. The Panthers scored five in the first and one in the second to take a 6-0 lead. After Davenport North put up one in the third, the Panthers added one in the fifth and one in the sixth to win the game by seven.

Samantha Broeker had a huge game. She went 2-4 with a home run, four RBIs and a run scored. Krabill, Coleman, Walls and Hannah Newman each had one RBI.

Kenna Smith threw a complete game, giving up one earned run on seven hits and two walks in her seven innings of work. She struck out one batter.

The Panthers had a rough time against Muscatine, one of the best teams in the state. Muscatine scored two in the first, two in the second, seven in the third and one in the fourth.

The Panthers had just two hits in the loss. Coleman and Anni Liechty each went 1-2. Smith took the loss in the circle, giving up 11 runs (10 earned) on 12 hits and three walks over three innings.

In the win over Iowa City West, Mt. Pleasant took an early 3-0 lead with two runs in the first and one in the second. The Trojans battled back with one in the third, but Mt. Pleasant put up two in the fifth and five in the seventh.

Liechty went 2-4 with three RBIs in the win. Krabill went 2-4 with a double and two RBIs. Broeker went 1-4 with a double and two RBIs. Vantiger went 2-3 with a double, an RBI and three runs scored, and Coleman went 2-4 with an RBI.

Coleman stayed cool in the circle through seven complete innings. She gave up just one unearned run on four hits and one walk, while striking out five.

Mt. Pleasant ended their regular season at 23-12. The Panthers will host either Fairfield or Keokuk in their regional tournament opener on Saturday, July 13. The Trojans will host the Chiefs on Thursday, July 11, to decide who plays Mt. Pleasant.