SILEX - Senior starter Madison Ausfahl threw a one-hit shutout and struck out 12 as the North Callaway Ladybirds softball team breezed to an 8-0 Eastern Missouri Conference victory over the Silex Lady Owls on Thursday night.
Ausfahl issued just one walk in improving her season record to 4-1. North Callaway (12-3, 7-1 EMO) jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, tacked on three more runs in the fourth and produced its final two runs in the sixth.
The loss left Silex at 6-8 on the season and 3-5 in the EMO.
Sophomore left fielder Kallie Jo Lehenbauer went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in, two runs scored and a stolen base to fuel the Ladybirds' 13-hit attack. Senior second baseman Karlie Popp was also 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and scored twice, while freshman center fielder Cameran Knipp finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.
"It was another good conference win and a great job by Madi of hitting her spots," North Callaway head coach Brandi Thomsen said.
The Ladybirds (13-0-1) triumphed in the junior varsity game 7-0.
Second-seeded North Callaway opens play in the Centralia Tournament with a first-round matchup against No. 7 Macon at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.