Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Muscatine players celebrate their Class 5A quarterfinal win on Monday at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Loaded with experience and a mix of memories from Rogers Park, the Muscatine softball team knocked off Ankeny in a Class 5A quarterfinal here Monday afternoon, 3-0.

The Muskies (33-6 overall) plated all three runs in the seventh, as Maura Chalupa pitched a two-hitter with eight strikeouts. Muscatine will now face rival Pleasant Valley (31-9) on Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the semifinals.

Kaitlyn Hoag delivered a two-RBI hit as Avery Schroeder, Mia Molina and Lilly Gray all came across after six scoreless innings between the two state veterans.

While the Muskies were making their 17th appearance here all-time, the Hawkettes (31-7) qualified for the 28th time and were chasing title No. 15.

“We fight every inning and every pitch,” Muscatine head coach Steve Hopkins said. “That’s what I told the girls before the seventh, and it is how we have approached the entire season.

“It’s a grind and this is such a reward.”

Chalupa, one of eight returning starters back from the third-place team of a year ago, was as dominant as ever. Only two doubles by Aubrey Lensmeyer kept her from a no-hitter, as she walked three.

“She wears it on her sleeve,” Hopkins said of his ace. “She is incredible and has always been such a competitor.

“We finally were able to lay off the rise in the seventh and put something together.”

All six of Muscatine’s losses this season have come at the hands of fellow state qualifiers. The Muskies have lost twice to Williamsburg, twice to Pleasant Valley and once each to Bettendorf and North Scott.

Williamsburg and North Scott are in the 3A field, while Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley and North Scott share the same conference as the Muskies.

“The Mississippi Athletic Conference is so tough,” Hopkins said. “It definitely helps us all get prepared for state.”

Ankeny’s Abby Rusher took the loss, allowing just one earned run with three strikeouts in six-plus innings. They will now face Waukee Northwest (31-12) in a consolation game on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. on Veterans’ Field.

MUSCATINE 3, ANKENY 0

Muscatine 000 000 3 — 3 5 1

Ankeny 000 000 0 — 0 2 1

WP–Maura Chalupa (20-3, 7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K). LP–Abby Rusher (19-5, 6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K).

2B–M: Avery Schroeder; A: Aubrey Lensmeyer (2). RBI–M: Kaitlyn Hoag (2). SB–M: Avery Schroeder.