New Bloomfield couldn't find the big hits Friday at St. Elizabeth and lost its final regular season road game 6-1.
The Lady Wildcats (12-9, 3-3 SMC) were within striking distance for much of the game against the Lady Hornets (14-7, 4-2 SMC), but too many balls found the St. Elizabeth defenders.
The first Lady Wildcat run was scored without the benefit of a hit as senior Jenna Nichols grounded out in the second inning to score freshman Macie Abbott - 2-for-3 - and tie the score at 1. In the inning before, junior Avery Nichols worked her way around to third but was stranded on a groundout with two outs.
Avery Nichols - who finished 2-for-2 - hit her way on again in the third inning in a bases-loaded situation and made her way to third after an error that allowed Asya Nichols to reach base. A runner was erased at home after another ground ball before another grounder ended the inning with no damage done.
Sophomore Peityn Thomas - six innings with eight hits, seven strikeouts, five earned runs and two walks - was holding down St. Elizabeth until the fourth inning, when the Lady Hornets came through with a run-scoring single to give them a 2-1 lead and then a 3-1 lead after a successful steal of second base.
St. Elizabeth would lead off the sixth inning with a home run to spark a three-run frame and a 6-1 lead.
The Lady Wildcats had only three more outs but were able to have three more baserunners to set up a bases-loaded, no-outs situation. Senior Kamryn Herron lined out to the shortstop and then sophomore Ashlynn Peters would ground into a double play to end the threat and the game.
New Bloomfield will have one more opportunity to build momentum before districts with a 5 p.m. Monday home game against California (12-11).