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COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — A trip to the other side of the state was a journey well worth taking for the Muscatine Community College softball team on Friday.

The Cardinals, now 24-6 overall and 4-2 in the conference race, returned home with a pair of low-scoring triumphs, a 3-1 decision in the opener and a 3-2 marathon 12-inning affair in the nightcap.

“Those were huge wins for us, especially after losing our first two conference games,” said MCC coach Scott Beatty. “Iowa Western is a very good ballclub.”

Muscatine got a pair of outstanding pitching performances in the conference twin bill. Jami Whitcomb tossed a three-hitter in winning the opening game and Ashley Wailand went the distance in the 12-inning nightcap.

The Cardinals snapped a 1-1 deadlock that had existed since the fourth inning of the second game. Muscatine had committed five errors in the game, but it was Iowa Western’s defense that proved to be decisive.

Following a leadoff walk in the 12th inning, Beatty bunted the runner around to third base. Iowa Western’s second error of the contest brought in the go-ahead run and another miscue followed, bringing home an insurance run that proved vital.

The Reivers got a one-out single in the bottom of the 12th and, after Muscatine failed to retire anyone on a ground ball, Wailand got the second out of the inning. A single by Toni Dance lowered the MCC lead to 3-2, but Wailand secured the victory by getting the third out.

Wailand struck out seven, walked two and gave up eight hits. Muscatine managed just three hits off tough-luck loser Stephanie Schmidt.

“Wailand was tremendous,” said Beatty, “but Schmidt was outstanding as well. It’s too bad one of them had to lose, but I guess if one of them had to, I’m glad it was them.”

Muscatine, again No. 16 in the Division I national rankings this week, pushed around two runs in the fourth inning to decide the opener against the 15th-ranked Reivers.

Leigha Strong singled to open the inning and, after a walk to Samantha Saladino, Alisha McFadden moved the runners up with a bunt. Cortnie Eagle singled a run home and Hailey Nichol added an RBI ground out.

The Cardinals had taken a 1-0 lead an inning earlier on a walk, a ground out and Sarah Thomas’ double. Iowa Western, however, got the run back in the bottom of the inning on an RBI by Luisa Bar.

Following the long trip home, MCC headed back out early this morning for Peoria, Ill., where it will play three games at the Illinois Central tournament. The Cardinals face the host team at 2 p.m., battle Merramac at 4 o’clock and Kankakee at 6.

They are scheduled to host Marshalltown in a 3 p.m. doubleheader at Kent-Stein Park on Sunday.

Muscatine 3, Iowa Western 1

Muscatine                         001 200 0  –  3 6 1

Iowa Western                     001 000 0  –  1 3 2

Jami Whitcomb & Laura Tackenberg; Emilee Pittman & Angela Jay. W – Whitcomb. L – Pittman. Hits (two or more) – MCC (Sarah Thomas 2); IW (Toni Dance 2). 2B – MCC (Thomas). RBI – MCC (Thomas, Cortnie Eagle, Hailey Nichol); IW (Luisa Bar).

Muscatine 3, Iowa Western 2

Muscatine                 000 100 000 002  –  3 3 5

Iowa Western             000 100 000 001  –  2 8 3

Ashley Wailand & Laura Tackenberg; Stephanie Schmidt & Angela Jay. W – Wailand. L – Schmidt. Hits (two or more) – MCC (Cortnie Eagle 2); IW (Katie Osborne 2). RBI – MCC (Eagle 1); IW (Amber Tuttle, Toni Dance).

Record – Muscatine 24-6 overall, 4-2 conference; Iowa Western 24-11, 1-3.

Next game – Muscatine at Illinois Central tournament, 2 p.m., today.