The Lady Wildcats were unable to protect an early three-run lead in dropping their regular-season finale 7-4 to the Lady Hornets in a Show-Me Conference loss Monday night.
New Bloomfield jumped out to a 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore starter Madison Love singled home freshman Madi Craighead with the first run, while senior Taylor Howard delivered a two-out, two-run single to drive in senior Kennedy Peiter and sophomore pinch-runner Lena Love.
St. Elizabeth, though, countered with four runs in the top of the second to go in front to stay. The Lady Hornets added another run in the third and their final two in the fifth.
The Lady Wildcats (10-11, 2-5 SMC) tallied their other run in the fifth when senior Keaira Ruppel tripled and later scored on an error.
Madison Love went 3-for-3 with a triple to direct New Bloomfield at the plate, while Craighead, Peiter, Howard and Ruppel were each 1-for-3.
Madison Love worked four innings in suffering the loss, giving up five runs - three earned - on eight hits. She struck out three, walked one and hit a batter.
The Lady Wildcats' junior varsity completed its season with a 7-3 win over St. Elizabeth.
New Bloomfield hosts the Class 2, District 10 Tournament starting today. The fourth-seeded Lady Wildcats face No. 5 Belle at 4:30 p.m.