WEXFORD — The Mars softball team made a habit of getting timely hits to complement the superb pitching of Monica Glomb on its way to a WPIAL title this season.

But on Monday afternoon, the Planets found themselves on the other side of that formula.

Punxsutawney starter Brooke Callen shut out Mars on five hits while the Woodchucks' offense managed at least one hit in five of the seven innings en route to a 3-0 victory in the first round of the PIAA Class AAA playoffs at North Allegheny High School.

Callen threw 69 pitches in the game, 60 for strikes. She struck out four and didn't walk a batter.

"Brooke doesn't have the variety of pitches that a lot of other pitchers do," said Punxsutawney coach Al Pifer. "But she has a rare ability to put the ball pretty much anywhere she wants it."

Glomb's performance was one of good news and bad news for the Planets.

The good news was she struck out 11 and didn't walk a batter. But the Woodchucks (19-2) were able to find holes in Mars' defense in key situations and three of their nine hits went for extra bases.

"I was a bit surprised that they put the bat on the ball as much as they did," said Mars coach Michele Goodworth. "But they're a good team and I'm sure they had a good scouting report on (Glomb)."

Two consecutive doubles gave Punxsutawney a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning.

Tiffany Dupont singled to lead off the inning. After a sacrifice bunt moved her to second base, she came home on Lauren Martino's double to deep left.

The next batter, catcher Nicole Cappella, smacked a two-base hit to the right-center field gap to score Martino.

That was all the offense Callen needed.

The junior right-hander allowed only one base runner in the first three innings on Glomb's single to right field in the bottom of the second.

In the fourth frame, the Planets (19-4) had two runners on with two outs after singles by Brie Berkopec and Zara Zollner.

But Callen buckled down and got Glomb to ground into a fielder's choice to end the threat.

"Our bats just didn't seem to connect at the same time," said Goodworth.

After a 1-2-3 inning in the fifth, the Planets received a ray of hope in the sixth when left fielder Brittany Berkopec sent a double to the right-center field fence. But in an attempt to stretch the play to a triple, she was thrown out at third base with several feet to spare.

"At first I told her to go (to third)," said Goodworth, who coaches third base for Mars. "Then I told her to hold up, but we didn't make eye contact."

In any event, the Planets' best chance to plate a run had been thwarted.

Hannah Taggart led off Mars' final at-bat with a single, but Callen set the next three batters down in order to end the game.

Martino and Dupont each had three hits for the Woodchucks, with two of Martino's hits going for doubles.

Her two-bagger in the top of the fifth inning drove home Dupont with Punxsutawney's third and final run.

"These girls are used to big games," said Pifer. "And that's important because, sometimes, teams get in big games and in front of big crowds and the players just aren't able to play up to their abilities."

As for the Planets, the defeat closes out the first season in team history that saw the squad make the state playoffs.

"We've got a lot of big shoes to fill, losing six seniors," said Goodworth. "Hopefully, the young girls on the team will realize what they have to do."

Mars' seniors include Kristin Scheller, Hannah Taggart, Kelsey Schroth, Kyla Ferguson, Brie Berkopec and Brooke Davidson.

Punxsutawney 002 010 0—3 9 0Mars 000 000 0—0 5 2WP: Brooke Callen (7 IP) 4 strikeouts, 0 walks.

LP: Monica Glomb (7 IP) 11 strikeouts, 0 walks

Punxsutawney (19-2): Tiffany Dupont 3-1B 2R, Lauren Martino 1B 2-2B 2 RBI R, Nicole Cappella 2B RBI, Katie Baun 1B SB, Samantha Reitz 1B

Mars (19-4): Brittany Berkopec 2B, Brie Berkopec 1B, Hannah Taggart 1B, Zara Zollner 1B, Monica Glomb 1B