MONTGOMERY CITY - The No. 2 seed North Callaway Ladybirds softball team was limited to just one hit in falling to top-seeded Bowling Green 10-1 in the championship of the Eastern Missouri Conference postseason tournament Saturday night.
North Callaway (17-7) - which lost to Bowling Green (21-2) for the EMO regular-season title 3-2 last Thursday night in Auxvasse - scored its lone run in Saturday night's championship in the top of the second inning. Sophomore left fielder Kallie Jo Lehenbauer drew a leadoff walk, moved up on a sacrifice, went to third on wild pitch and scored on a throwing error on the play.
The Lady Bobcats tied the game with a run in their half of the second and then pulled away behind a nine-run outburst in the third.
Lehenbauer had the Ladybirds' only hit on a single in the fourth.
Senior starter Madison Ausfahl (7-4) was tagged with the loss, allowing seven runs - six earned - on six hits in just 2 2/3 innings. Ausfahl issued three walks and struck out one.
"The girls played a great tournament; we just couldn't hit against Bowling Green," Ladybirds head coach Brandi Thomsen said. "Playing this well going into the district tournament is good."
North Callaway reached the championship with a dramatic 5-4 victory over No. 3 seed Montgomery County in the semifinals. The Ladybirds plated the winning run in the bottom of the sixth when senior right fielder Patri Eckert opened the inning with a triple and eventually scored on Lehenbauer's single to left.
Lehenbauer finished 3-for-4 with the winning RBI and also scored a run as North Callaway collected nine hits. Sophomore pinch-hitter Hanna Knipp went 1-for-1 with a two-run double, while freshman center fielder Lani Wilson was 2-for-3 and scored once, and Eckert finished 1-for-3.
Madison Ausfahl - working the last three innings in relief of her sister, freshman starter Mackenzie Ausfahl - earned the win. She gave up an earned run on two hits, struck out two and walked none.
The Ladybirds opened tournament play earlier Saturday with a 9-3 first-round triumph over No. 7 seed Van-Far in five innings.
Senior second baseman Karlie Popp was 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored to help power North Callaway's 11-hit attack. Freshman third baseman Harper Thomsen finished 2-for-2 with an RBI and scored once, while Eckert went 2-for-4 and scored a run.
Senior catcher Erinn Bush was 1-for-1 with two RBI and senior designated player Taylor Wiseman finished 1-for-1 and scored a run.
Junior starter Taylor Wilson (7-2) threw a complete game to pick up the win, giving up three earned runs on six hits. Wilson struck out five and walked one.
The Ladybirds received the second seed and a first-round bye for this week's Class 2, District 11 Tournament at Centralia. North Callaway will play either No. 4 seed Montgomery County or No. 5 Hallsville in the semifinals at 5 p.m. Thursday.