PLEASANT HOPE, Mo. - Megan Mitchem drove in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth inning and Makenna Kliethermes pitched a shutout, leading the Blair Oaks Lady Falcons to a 1-0 win against the Pleasant Hope Lady Pirates in the Class 2 quarterfinals Saturday.
Blair Oaks (21-8) advances to the semifinals for the first time since 2013. The Lady Falcons will face Jefferson: Festus (19-8) at 11 a.m. Friday at Killian Sports Complex in Springfield.
In the fifth inning, Macyn Wilbers started the frame with a leadoff double down the left-field line. After a groundout, Wilbers advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Mitchem then grounded out to the second baseman, scoring Wilbers to give Blair Oaks a 1-0 lead.
That would be enough run support for Kliethermes, who was making her first pitching appearance since Oct. 1 at the Carthage Tournament. The sophomore struck out 13 batters and allowed just three hits and two walks to earn the win.
In the top of the fifth, Brooke Boessen made a running catch in right-center field to end the inning and strand a runner at second base.
After allowing a leadoff hit in the seventh, Kliethermes struck out the next two batters and then got a groundout to end the game.
Sydney Wilde led Blair Oaks at the plate with two doubles. Wilbers had a double, Kliethermes added a single and Emilee Jones had a bunt single.
Pleasant Hope ends the season with an 18-11 record.
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Blair Oaks vs. Pleasant Hope game photos by Ozarks Sports Zone