STURGEON - Freshman starter Kaylee Beck threw a two-hit shutout and struck out six in the New Bloomfield Lady Wildcats softball team's 7-0 non-conference triumph over the Sturgeon Lady Bulldogs on Monday night.
Beck issued just one walk to pick up the complete-game victory. New Bloomfield (12-3) tallied single runs in the first and second innings, put up two in the third, two more in the fifth and one in the sixth.
Junior right fielder Madison Love went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs batted in and two runs scored as the Lady Wildcats erupted for 12 hits. Sophomore shortstop Madi Craighead also finished 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and scored once.
Sophomore catcher Shelby Ruppel was 2-for-4 with an RBI for New Bloomfield, while junior third baseman Kate Baxter went 1-for-3 with a triple and scored a run.
"We put the ball in play consistently and didn't leave runners on base," Lady Wildcats head coach Dara Reinkemeyer said. "Defensively, we were very strong."
New Bloomfield took second place Saturday in the AA Bash Tournament hosted by Eugene and Russellville. The Lady Wildcats - despite a 14-hit attack - committed five errors in a 14-7 loss to Southern Boone in the championship.
Southern Boone broke on top with three runs in the top of the first, but New Bloomfield countered with two runs in its half of the inning to close within 3-2. The Lady Eagles erupted for seven runs in the second, but the Lady Wildcats came back with two in the bottom of the inning to make it 10-5.
Southern Boone added three runs in the third and one in the fifth, while New Bloomfield tacked on its other two runs in the fourth.
Baxter went 4-for-5 and scored twice to direct the Lady Wildcats. Love finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, while freshman center fielder Haley Berhorst was 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Senior first baseman Stephanie Davis went 1-for-4 with an RBI for New Bloomfield.
The Lady Wildcats opened tournament play earlier Saturday with a 12-1 romp over Versailles, then advanced to the title game by shutting out Eldon 3-0 in the semifinals.
New Bloomfield hosts South Callaway in a Show-Me Conference matchup at 5 p.m. Thursday.