MOKANE - The New Bloomfield Lady Wildcats softball team couldn't withstand Eugene's late comeback.
The No. 4 seed Lady Eagles rallied for five runs in the top of the sixth inning to beat No. 3 New Bloomfield 8-5 on Saturday in the championship of the South Callaway Tournament.
Eugene jumped in front with two runs in the first and added a run in the third to take a 3-0 advantage. The Lady Wildcats answered with three runs in their half of the third to pull even and tallied a run in the fifth to go on top 4-3.
The Lady Eagles used their outburst in the sixth to regain the lead for good. New Bloomfield tacked on a run in the seventh.
The Lady Wildcats slipped to 13-7 on the season as Eugene avenged a 4-0 Show-Me Conference loss Sept. 26 at New Bloomfield.
Junior center fielder Makenna Branch was 3-for-3 with a double and scored three runs as the Lady Wildcats collected seven hits in Saturday's title game. Sophomore catcher Brooke Talbot went 2-for-3 with a run batted in and sophomore Ellie Emerson - who started in the pitching circle - finished 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Sophomore Asya Nichols - who threw the final four innings in relief - was tagged with the loss for New Bloomfield. Nichols (4-4) gave up five runs - only one earned - on seven hits and struck out one.
The Lady Wildcats started tournament play earlier Saturday with an 8-1 victory against No. 6 seed Silex in the first round. New Bloomfield then advanced to the championship by edging No. 7 seed South Callaway 6-5 in the semifinals.
"We are happy to see the girls putting everything together," New Bloomfield coach Dara Reinkemeyer said. "The energy level and mindset was evident in all games."
New Bloomfield hosts Calvary Lutheran at 5 p.m. Thursday.