A pitchers’ duel morphed into a game of inches and marked a bittersweet ending to Mundelein’s state tournament hopes as the Mustangs (22-11) dropped a 2-0 decision to Loyola (18-15) in the sectional finals Saturday at Stevenson High School.

Each pitching on one day’s rest, Mundelein starter Sophia Zepeda and her Loyola counterpart Hunter Lewis fanned 11 batters apiece and yielded a combined six hits. Zepeda, who threw seven innings of one-hit ball on Thursday, gave up one earned run and walked only two in another seven frames of work.

“She did everything she could to get herself ready for this game,” Mundelein coach Heather Ryan said. “I don’t think people realize how much stress that is on an arm to go in such a short turnaround. But, man, did she want it. She played like a senior today

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