AUXVASSE - The Lady Indians came up with three runs in the top of the eighth inning to hand the Ladybirds their first Eastern Missouri Conference loss of the season Thursday night.
Elsberry (5-2, 3-2 EMO) put up two runs in the first, but North Callaway (4-3, 4-1) countered with a run in its half of the inning to make it 2-1. The Ladybirds tied the game with a run in the second, but the Lady Indians answered with a run in the fourth to go back in front 3-2.
North Callaway pulled even again with a run in its half of the fourth and the game eventually went to extra innings.
Junior shortstop Ellie Eckert just missed hitting for the cycle, going 3-for-4 with a triple, a double and a run scored as the Ladybirds collected 10 hits. Senior starter Kenzie Ausfahl was 1-for-3 with a run batted in and a stolen base.
Ausfahl (3-2) was tagged with the complete-game loss despite striking out 11. She surrendered six runs - five earned - on seven hits and walked three.
"We hit the ball hard a lot of times, but right at them," North Callaway head coach Mariah McKee said. "(Elsberry) hit the ball hard, and in the eighth they found the holes."
The Ladybirds start play in the Capital City Invitational against host Jefferson City at 2:30 p.m. today.