Lady Owls' season ends at Boonville

The Lady Owls didn't have a hit against Boonville until junior KaeLeigh Brown singled in the fifth inning. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Sophomore Maria Imhoff handcuffed Marshall for the second time this season with a two-hit shutout, having blanked the Lady Owls with a one-hitter on Sept. 2. Imhoff struck out nine batters and didn't give up a hit until junior KaeLeigh Brown singled with one out in the fifth inning.

The Lady Pirates didn't pull away until the end, though, their first run unearned due to an error in the second inning -- senior Caitlin Holman scoring on Imhoff's squeeze bunt.

Senior Jessica Klusmeyer singled and junior Kelly Klusmeyer doubled to begin the Boonville half of the fourth, both coming in on sophomore Lindie Adair's two-out triple to deep center field.

Jessica Klusmeyer singled in a run in the fifth following a dropped fly ball and Adair singled again in the sixth, swiping a base and scoring on a grounder.

Klusmeyer and Adair each had two hits for the Lady Pirates (17-7), who fell to Warsaw, 2-1, in Saturday's championship game.

Marshall's other hit was a one-out single by junior Tara Bartel in the top of the seventh. Sophomore Chelsey Anderson allowed only six hits and three earned runs.

Each of the first three seasons has seen the Lady Owls (4-17) double their win totals, from one in 2006 to two last year and four this season -- including their first two NCMC victories.