MUSCODA - Monday was a great day for the Chieftains softball team as they shut out conference rivals, Iowa Grant, 2-0. The team has been looking for a big win like this, as they have played tough against all of the top conference teams this year.

Amanda Meister brought the heat against Iowa-Grant during her outing. Iowa-Grant managed just one hit off of Meister, who allowed no earned runs, walked none and struck out nine during her seven innings of work.

Solid defense was the key to Monday night’s win at Jaycee Park. The Chieftains committed just one error in the field, but overall made some big plays to shut the Panthers down. A big play for the Chieftain’s defense was a Miester to Mackenzie Herried pick off play in the top of the fourth. Herried snuck in behind the Iowa Grant baserunner from center field to tag her out at second. That was the only Panther to make it to a scoring position.

The two runs scored by the Chieftains came in the third inning when Macy Curtis led of with a tremendous single to right field. Allie Grimm followed her with a sacrifice hit to the right side of the field, which moved Curtis to scoring position. Macy Koch drilled a base hit to score Curtis and put the Chieftains up 1-0. But, the girls were not done as Herreid crushed an RBI double. A 2-0 lead would prove to be enough, as the Chieftains defense, behind great pitching, would finish the game in seven innings.

The Chieftains improved to 7-7 overall, and 3-6 in conference play.

The Chieftains fell 1-4 to the Cubans on Monday, April 25.

The girls will play a busy week of games: at Boscobel on Thursday, at Lancaster on Friday, and the Autism Awareness Tournament on Saturday at Riverdale, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. (approx.).