Junior starter Madison Ausfahl threw a two-hitter and also smacked a two-run home run to help trigger the Ladybirds' 7-0 EMO triumph over the Lady Owls on Thursday night.
The shutout was the fourth of the season for Ausfahl (6-0), who struck out seven, issued a walk and lowered her ERA to a scant 0.91 in going the distance for the victory. She hit her home run in the bottom of the third inning to give North Callaway, celebrating senior night, a 3-0 edge.
The Ladybirds - 12-2 on the season and 8-0 in the Eastern Missouri Conference - tacked on single runs in the fourth and fifth, then two more in the sixth to cap off the win. The loss dropped Silex to 9-5 overall and 5-3 in conference play.
Junior third baseman Shannon Haley went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in and a run scored as North Callaway recorded 12 hits. Junior left fielder Karlie Popp was 2-for-3 and scored three times.
"It was an excellent game," Ladybirds head coach Brandi Thomsen said. "The team played hard for the seniors, who played a great game."
North Callaway (7-2) was edged in the junior varsity game 5-4.
The Ladybirds - drawing the fifth seed - face No. 4 Hallsville at 9 a.m. Saturday in the first round of the Centralia Tournament.