South Callaway played in the lead for most of the game Tuesday before a ball was sent behind the Lady Bulldogs over the fence.
The Lady Bulldogs compiled 13 hits in their first round Class 2 District 3 matchup with Salisbury at Harrisburg and had a 4-1 lead heading into the fifth inning before back-to-back three-run innings by the Lady Panthers ended South Callaway's season in a 7-4 loss.
Five of the South Callaway starters had two hits, and freshman McKenzie Laughlin pitched all six innings the Lady Bulldogs played in the field, allowing three earned runs but also four unearned runs on four South Callaway errors.
In the first inning, three of the two-hit Lady Bulldogs - freshman Reagan Arrowood, junior Abbi Patrick and senior Grace Pontius - strung together three straight singles, with Pontius picking up an RBI. Freshman Haley White then increased the lead to 3-0 after a single of her own later in the inning.
Salisbury (13-9) was on the board in the next half inning after Khloe Wyatt hit the first of her two home runs.
South Callaway increased the lead back to three after Arrowood hit an RBI double that scored senior Kamryn Kraft, who had two hits.
Laughlin cruised until the fifth inning when she loaded the bases with one out. She walked Wyatt this time to load them but made an error in the next batter to allow two runs to score. The second out was recorded via strikeout, but the tying run was scored a wild pitch on the same play.
In the sixth inning, Laughlin had retired two batters and had one runner on base after an error on the infield. Wyatt drove a pitch to center field that lifted the Lady Panthers to a 7-4 lead and capped her 2-for-3, four RBI day.
South Callaway had one more shot to save its season and had a good start with Patrick's leadoff single. Pontius and junior Alaney Miller each made bids for hits No. 3 but lined out instead. Laughlin was able to find a hit only for the game to end after Patrick was thrown out trying to advance to third.
"I'm very proud of our seniors, who were such good leaders for the younger players this season," head coach Rusty Creed said. "Grace Pontius, Hailee Potter, Kamryn Kraft, Avarie Musgrove and Piper Glover held the bar high and their influence will be felt in our program for several years."
The Lady Bulldogs finished the season with a 9-11 overall record and a 3-4 Show-Me Conference record.