In a tightly contested game at Diamond of Champions today the Pumas saw their seven-game winning streak to start the season end when Columbus beat them 1-0 in eight innings.
It was a closely played game from start to finish as Poynette sophomore pitcher Holly Lowenberg and Columbus's senior Claire Smedema hooked up in a real duel.
Columbus threatened right out of the gate when Lowenberg walked Alise Hayes who was then moved to second on a sacrifice b bunt by Smedeman herself. Lowenburg loosened up a bit and struck out the next two batters to quash the threat. In the bottom of the second the Pumas got Brooke Steinhorst aboard and Peyton Gest followed with a single. but Laken Wagner, Alli Ripp and Peyton Kingsland all flew out to left field.
The Pumas threatened again when in the third inning when Maysa Clemens reached on a first base error. Ashia Meister moved her to to second on a sacrifice bunt and when Abby Klink reached on a two base error on shortstop Kylee Farrington Clemens moved to third bringing the Pumas two leading hitters into play. However, Lowenberg popped out to first and Steinhorst grounded to first and Smedema had worked out of a tight jam.
Lowenberg the corralled Columbus in the fourth, fifth and sixth save for a dropped fly ball in left field by Allana Borgen, The Pumas didn't fare any better in their half of those innings, going down swinging in order after Gest had reached on a centerfield error.
In the seventh Columbus rallied wih two down and nobody aboard with back-to-back singles by Rhyann Adam and Dakota Volesky and a walk to Lexi Raeder. With the bricks full Carley Meyers went down looking.
The Pumas stood a chance to win it in the bottom of the seventh when sophomore Alli Ripp singled and moved to second on sacrifice bunt by Peyton Kingsland. Clemens went down on a little pop up to the catcher and the inning ended with Ashia Meister went down swinging.
In the top of the 8th the Cardinals got Hayes on with a single and mvoed her to second on a bunt by Smedema. Emmajo Peck then singled through the hole at short and it looked like there might be a play at the plate but the ball got away from the leftfielder allowing Peck to move to second. The inning ended two batters later.
After losing 1-0 in Lake Mills, Smedema took charge in the with the strength of the Pumas' lineup. Klink, batting second popped out lightly to her. and Lowenberg went down swinging for the third time. Steinhorst singled to keep slim hopes alive but Gest rolled one to first to end the game.
Both pitches struck out nine and both had 4 hits. Columbus had been held hitless by Lowenberg through 6 2/3 innings. Lowenberg issued two free passes and Smedema walked none. Lowenberg faced 31 batters while Smedema faced 32.
The loss was the first Capitol North game after 49 straight wins and pulls Lake Mills up into a tie for the lead with their 9-0 win over Lakeside Lutheran.
The Pumas were on the verge of breaking the record for the state's longest winning streak of 63 games set in 2015 through 2017. The 60 in a row won by three different Pumas' teams and graduates of 2018, 2019, 2020 along with seniors Kinglsland, Borgen and Clemens along with junior Klink and Meister all played roles in those 60 victories. The Pumas program had moved into second place ahead of the 54 game streak by Stevens Point in the early 2000s when they Lake Mills in the second game of this season.
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