North Callaway blanks Wellsville in EMO softball road game

The Ladybirds tagged the Lady Tigers for six runs with two outs in the top of the first inning and cruised to the 13-0, five-inning romp in Eastern Missouri Conference play Thursday night.

North Callaway (4-0, 2-0 EMO) highlighted its outburst in the first with an RBI single by junior pitcher Madison Ausfahl, a two-run single from junior catcher Erinn Bush and an RBI single by freshman second baseman Meagan Talley.

The Ladybirds added two runs in the second, one in the third and two each in the fourth and fifth as they collected 15 hits.

"I'm very proud of how they drove runs in and did what they're supposed to do," North Callaway head coach Brandi Thomsen said. "Someone gets on and we drive them in."

Bush finished 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, while senior shortstop Elaine Brinker was 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and three runs scored.

Senior first baseman Danielle Cassidy also finished 2-for-2 with a double and scored a run. Junior third baseman Shannon Haley was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Ausfahl went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Ausfahl (2-0) threw a two-hitter, struck out six and issued just one walk in the complete-game win.

"She did an excellent job," Thomsen said. "She hit her spots, she lets her defense work for her, but she does a good job. She had 38 pitches through three innings, which is a good number.

"(Her pitch count) went up a little after that, but it was a good start."

The Ladybirds (1-1) triumphed in the junior varsity game 6-1.

North Callaway hosts Wright City in an EMO clash at 4 p.m. today.