After falling behind 3-0, sophomore Chelsey Anderson set down 14 straight Mexico batters to allow the Lady Owls rally for their first-ever NCMC win. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The Lady Owls didn't have a hit until sophomore Kelsey Griffin led off the final frame with a single, racing around the base paths with the game-winning run on an errant throw on senior Alicia Gross' sacrifice bunt.

"They just never gave up the whole game," remarked Danielle Callanan after winning her debut as a head coach. "They played their hearts out."

The Lady Bulldogs picked up a run in the first inning on singles by senior Callie Bracht and junior Liz Crews and two more tallies in the second, senior Kayla Winterbower and Bracht stroking singles to plate runners. Only one of the runs was earned.

That's when Marshall sophomore Chelsey Anderson found her groove, retiring 14 straight batters and allowing only two hits while tossing five shutout innings. The question was whether the Lady Owls could catch up.

They did, but not easily. Sophomore Alex Sprigg walked and came in on a sacrifice fly by junior Tara Bartel in the third. Another sac fly by Bartel in the fifth scored Gross, who had drawn a free pass with one out.

Mexico errors contributed to both runs, and let senior Demi Sprigg reach base with two outs in the fifth. Alex Sprigg got on board due to a botched fielder's choice, with senior pinch runner Leslie Stark advancing.

Stark came in with the tying run on a wild pitch, but sophomore Nikki Cornine -- who had come in to run for Sprigg -- was gunned down at the plate when she tried to score on the same play.

Griffin singled to lead off the seventh and when Bracht threw Gross' bunt into right field, the speedy Griffin scored from first base to end a 20-game conference losing streak.

Bracht had three hits and junior Courtney Fischer pitched six innings without allowing a hit for the Lady 'Dogs (0-1, 0-1 NCMC) -- who returned only two starters from a squad which whipped the Lady Owls twice last season, 18-3 and 10-0.

Anderson scattered six hits, allowed only one earned run, struck out four batters and walked one to lead Marshall (1-0, 1-0) -- which travels to Warrensburg today.

"They were so excited" about the first league win, Callanan described her club's reaction. "This will really help them out, knowing they can do it."