The North Callaway Thunderbirds' inability to bring in runners hindered any chance of securing an EMO home triumph.
The Thunderbirds stranded 12 on base in an 8-4 Eastern Missouri Conference loss to the Elsberry Indians on Thursday.
North Callaway (3-6, 1-4 EMO) collected nine hits, but committed nine errors in the conference encounter.
Elsberry grabbed the early edge with three runs in the top of the first. Sophomore catcher Wyatt Branson singled in the T-Birds first run in the second.
The Indians tallied a pair of runs in both the third and fourth inning to extend out to a 7-1 cushion. North Callaway cut into the deficit with its final three runs in the fourth, highlighted by Branson's two-out, two-run single.
Elsberry added its final run in the seventh as they racked up 13 hits.
Sophomore AJ Stubblefield took the loss for T-Birds, tossing three innings and allowing seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits. Stubblefield (1-1) struck out four and walked just one.
Branson finished 3-for-4 with a stolen base and two RBIs, while senior third baseman Trevor Crisp finished 2-for-2 with an RBI and a walk.
The T-Birds play a non-conference game against Father Tolton at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Columbia American Legion Ballpark.