Ladybirds bow to Palmyra 7-1 in Class 2 sectionals

PALMYRA, Mo. - The North Callaway Ladybirds couldn't survive a scarcity of offense.

North Callaway managed only three hits off Palmyra pitcher Alana Comstock in bowing to the Lady Panthers 7-1 in the Class 2 sectionals Wednesday night.

The Ladybirds ended their season with a 20-6 record. Palmyra (19-8) will travel to Bowling Green (23-4) for a Class 2 quarterfinal showdown Saturday. The Lady Bobcats advanced with a 20-0 sectional rout of Metro on Wednesday night.

"We didn't execute and we played poorly on defense," North Callaway head coach Brandi Thomsen said. "We weren't our usual selves - I wished we had a better showing against a quality team."

The Lady Panthers broke a scoreless tie by putting up three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Palmyra then added a single run in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh.

The Ladybirds avoided being shut out by scoring their lone run in the bottom of the seventh. Senior first baseman Hanna Knipp led off the inning with a single and was replaced by junior courtesy runner Heather Thurman.

Thurman reached second on an error, advanced to third on a wild pitch and raced home on another wild pitch by Comstock.

Knipp finished 2-for-3 and also singled in the first. North Callaway's other hit came on a single by junior starter Kenzie Ausfahl in the sixth.

Ausfahl (13-4) went four innings in suffering the loss. She allowed three earned runs on six hits, struck out five and walked two.

Comstock earned the complete-game victory, striking out eight and issuing one walk.