LE GRAND — East Marshall senior Peyton Grabenbauer pitched a two-hit shutout and the Mustangs smacked Waterloo Columbus 8-0 in six innings in Friday’s Class 2A Region 8 softball semifinal to advance to within one win of a third-straight trip to state.

The Mustangs (23-9) will face No. 8 Wapsie Valley (17-7) on Monday night at the Warriors’ home field near Fairbank in the game to get to state.

Grabenbauer struck out eight and walked only one as the Mustangs moved quickly through the Sailors (17-15) on their way back to the regional finals. The Sailors advanced only one runner as far as second base, a feat they didn’t achieve until the top of the fifth inning.

Miyah and Peyton Grabenbauer each had two of the Mustangs’ eight hits as well, with Waterloo Columbus pitching issuing a combined six walks as well. Starting pitcher Joey Becker took the loss for the Sailors, allowing five runs — three earned — on three hits and four walks over three innings.

Libby Atcher hit a two-run double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Reagan Halverson to give the Mustangs a 5-0 lead after three innings. Taylor Halverson drove home a run with her fifth-inning double, and East Marshall ended the game with two runs in the sixth.

Sophia Adkins walked, Kayda Devig singled, Gianna Boswell hit an RBI single, and Miyah Grabenbauer followed with a double. Ashtyn Wheater was plunked two pitches later, and Peyton Grabenbauer ended it with a double.