NEW BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - Freshman pitcher Sarah Abbott's eight strikeouts and third-inning grand slam were enough for New Bloomfield to cool off Show-Me Conference rival South Callaway 10-4 on a sweltering Thursday night.
Abbott was untouchable in the pitching circle through the first three innings as she piled up six of her strikeouts and retired nine consecutive batters.
However, New Bloomfield (11-4, 4-1) was unable to take advantage of Abbott's superb pitching as the two teams remained scoreless until senior catcher Shelby Ruppel's sacrifice fly drove in senior shortstop Madi Craighead to begin the bottom of the third for the Lady Wildcats.
Back-to-back walks then loaded the bases as Abbott came to the plate. Facing a 3-1 count, Abbott blasted a home run to left-center, clearing the bases to put New Bloomfield ahead 5-0.
Abbott finished 3-for-3 with a team-high six RBI and two doubles to complement her grand slam. She set the tone on the mound by giving up four runs, three earned, scattering five hits and issuing four walks.
"They made the adjustments at the plate they needed to and made (South Callaway freshman starter Cassidy Crocker) pitch to them," New Bloomfield head coach Dara Reinkemeyer said. "Offensively, (Abbott) really played well and brought her bat out tonight.
"Defensively, she threw well. She had a lot of strikeouts, but she got a little tired at the end, and with this heat I understand."
Facing a steep deficit, the Lady Bulldogs (7-10, 1-4 SMC) would attempt to rally in the fourth as the humid conditions began taking their toll on Abbott.
After hitting freshman third baseman Delaney Horstman with a pitch with two outs, Abbott gave up her first hit to sophomore second baseman Kelsey Logan on a single.
Crocker followed with a single to load the bases, then freshman designated player Kassidy Logan delivered a three-run double to make it 6-3.
The Lady Wildcats would quickly respond in the bottom of the fourth as another Abbott double drove in two runs and sophomore courtesy runner Bailey Priest scored when senior second baseman Kassi O'Dowd drew a bases-loaded walk.
New Bloomfield tacked on a run in the fifth and South Callaway tallied its final run in the seventh.
Crocker suffered the loss, allowing six earned runs on 16 hits in four innings. She walked three and struck out one.
Junior third baseman Haley Berhorst went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored as the Lady Wildcats accumulated 19 hits. O'Dowd finished 3-for-4 with a double.
Both teams play in the South Callaway Tournament on Saturday. The No. 7 seed Lady Bulldogs face Silex at 9 a.m. and No. 1 New Bloomfield squares off against No. 8 Mark Twain at 10:30.