Ausfahl, Ladybirds softball team ease past Montgomery County

MONTGOMERY CITY - Freshman Mackenzie Ausfahl threw a four-hitter and struck out eight in her first varsity start as the North Callaway Ladybirds softball team toppled the EMO rival Montgomery County Lady Wildcats 8-1 on Thursday night.

Ausfahl allowed an earned run in the bottom of the seventh inning and walked none in a complete-game outing as North Callaway improved to 9-2 overall and 5-1 in the Eastern Missouri Conference. The Ladybirds erupted for four runs in the top of the third, added a run in the fifth and tacked on three in the seventh.

The loss dropped Montgomery County to 6-2 on the season and 5-2 in conference play.

Senior catcher Erinn Bush went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in the fifth as North Callaway ended up with six hits. Senior right fielder Patri Eckert was also 1-for-4 with a two-run double in the third, while junior first baseman Taylor Wilson finished 1-for-4 with a two-run single in the seventh.

"We played a great game in all phases," Ladybirds head coach Brandi Thomsen said.

The Ladybirds (9-0-1) rolled to a 12-0 triumph in three innings in the junior varsity contest.

North Callaway faces Hickman at 11 a.m. Saturday in Columbia.