JEFFERSON CITY - The Lady Wildcats had their seven-game winning streak halted as the defending Class 3 state champion Lady Crusaders rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning Thursday night.
New Bloomfield (7-2) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on sophomore left fielder Brinley Dysart's RBI groundout, but Helias tied the game with a run in the bottom of the inning.
The Lady Wildcats went back in front with a run in the third when junior catcher Kamryn Herron scored on an error. New Bloomfield protected its 2-1 advantage until the Lady Crusaders' comeback in the sixth.
Junior shortstop Jenna Nichols finished 1-for-3 with a triple and a run scored as the Lady Wildcats were limited to four hits. Herron, senior first baseman Sarah Abbott and junior starter Asya Nichols were each 1-for-3.
Freshman Peityn Thomas - working the final 2 1/3 innings in relief of Asya Nichols - suffered the loss for New Bloomfield. Thomas allowed two runs - one earned - on two hits and struck out two.
"The girls showed themselves and everybody else that they can hang with the best of them," Lady Wildcats head coach Dara Reinkemeyer said. "That's exciting."
New Bloomfield hosts Fatima in a Show-Me Conference matchup at 5 p.m. Tuesday.