Both starting pitchers were on their game, so Wednesday's contest was going to come down to mistakes.
So it did as St. Ignatius scored three unearned runs in the top of the fifth inning to defeat host Pioneer 3-0 in a Central Coast Section Division II playoff softball game.
The Wildcats now advance to meet Hillsdale at 10 a.m. Saturday at Redwood City's Hawes Park in a quarterfinal game. For Pioneer, the season is finished.
"It was just that one inning -- we gave them three runs," Pioneer coach Ernie Garcia said. "We also didn't execute on offense. We put on that squeeze (play), but popped the ball up and got doubled up.
"But we had a great season. At one point we were tied for last in league and we battled back to take fourth place and make the playoffs. It's hard for the seniors right now who put so much in this."
Those would be Pioneer pitcher Samantha Blum who pitched splendidly through 4 2/3 innings until her defense betrayed her and center fielder Natalie Tom who had a third-inning diving catch off a Carrie McKewan drive that was SportsCenter-worthy.
After the game Blum and Tom toured the Pioneer softball complex, scrolling their names on objects with a Sharpie pen, just to make sure they won't be forgotten.
McKewan was at least Blum's equal in the circle and had better defensive support.
Two infield errors gave the Wildcats (18-13) their opening in the fifth. Then Sarah Jensen deftly bunted the runners to second and third base.
Blum got the second out of the inning on a pop-up, but then Rachael Garrison hit a sinking drive to right field that fell for a two-base error, with two runs scoring.
"I was hoping it would drop," Garrison said. "I wasn't thinking about much, I was just running. It felt good."
Tara Fallahee then drove in the final run of the game with a single and Garcia replaced the hard-luck Blum with sophomore Caitlyn Weisner.
Other than summer ball, this will be the last time Pioneer's Blum suits up until she gets to Whittier College.
"I'm going to miss high school and miss playing with these girls," Blum said. "We had a lot of fun."
McKewan, who will play at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver next season, was stellar. She gave up just one hit, struck out four and walked two.
Pioneer had a chase to take the lead in the bottom of the fourth after an infield error, a walk and a sacrifice bunt by Blum put runners on second and third with one out. But then McKewan snared a line-drive squeeze bunt attempt and threw it to Fallahee at third to complete a double play and end the inning.
It was the Wildcats' first section playoff victory since 2009 when St. Ignatius defeated Branham under coach John Vincent, the former star Serra pitcher.
"We're happy to get a CCS win -- it legitimizes our season," Wildcats coach Paul Webb said. "We finished second in the WCAL and just really played well as a team. This is the ultimate team."
Tatiana Venegas had the only hit for Pioneer (15-12), in the second inning. Garrison, McKewan, Fallahee, Jacqueline Boland, Jackie Ocana and Michelle Larose all had hits for SI.
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John Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@Prep2Prep.com and followed on Twitter @PrepCat
