WARDSVILLE - The Blair Oaks Lady Falcons put on a hitting display Tuesday night at the Falcon Athletic Complex.
In just three innings, the Lady Falcons scattered 15 hits across the field in a 16-1 win against the Southern Boone Lady Eagles.
"We had a lot of good swings tonight," Blair Oaks coach Sharon Buschjost said.
For the second time in as many weeks, each spot in the Blair Oaks batting order collected at least one hit. The Lady Falcons produced several line drive hits, even though they snapped their streak of three straight games with at least one home run.
"If we can swing like we did tonight, I'll take that production without home runs any day," Buschjost said.
The Lady Falcons scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning and one in the second because ending the game early by run-rule with a 10-run third inning.
Kadence Kliegel's slap triple into the left-field corner highlighted the first inning, while Kenzie Libbert followed with an RBI double to the left-center field gap to make the score 4-0.
Even Blair Oaks' bloop hits were finding holes in the Southern Boone defense. Ellie Kliethermes dropped in a single just over the shortstop's head in the second inning and Alexis Findley sliced a two-run triple that landed on the right-field foul line.
"I guess that's when things are going well for you, when those things happen," Buschjost said.
The Blair Oaks defense had to escape an early jam in the top of the first following a leadoff double by Southern Boone's Mariah Prince, who then moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt. But Andi Siebeneck struck out the next two batters to keep the Lady Falcons from falling behind.
"We've done that several times this year," Buschjost said. "Not that you ever want to give up a leadoff double, but what you do after that is important. They executed a sacrifice bunt that was perfect, and then our pitching and defense got us out of the inning.
"When you go from that to quickly putting up runs on the board, that's a momentum swing."
Prince homered to left field in her next at-bat in the third, scoring the only run for Southern Boone (6-11).
Kliegel went 3-for-3, adding two singles, while Libbert had two doubles. Madi Boessen and Macee Ernst each had a single and a double in the win. Boessen drove in a team-high four runs, while Kliegel and Findley each had two RBI.
Siebeneck struck out five and allowed just three hits.
Blair Oaks (19-5) will play its final home game of the regular season today against Eldon. First pitch is at 5 p.m.
The Lady Falcons need a win to clinch at least a share of the Tri-County Conference title. California (5-1) and Hallsville (3-1) each have one loss like Blair Oaks (5-1), but the Lady Pintos and Lady Indians face each other Thursday.
"It may not be an outright conference title, but it's important to share the title," Buschjost said. "We have to take care of Eldon tomorrow."
Blair Oaks also learned Tuesday it will be the No. 2 seed in the Class 3 District 5 Tournament next week at Versailles. California is the No. 1 seed, while Versailles is the No. 3 and Fatima is the No. 4.
The Lady Falcons will face seventh-seeded Eldon at 5 p.m. next Wednesday to begin the district tournament.
"California deservedly got the No. 1 seed," Buschjost said. "It's hard to look past head-to-head."
In Thursday's JV game, Blair Oaks defeated Southern Boone 18-2 in three innings.
Olivia Moyer struck out four in 2 innings of relief to earn the win. She also went 3-for-3 with a two-run home run to lead Blair Oaks (11-2).
Kally Bruce also had three hits and three RBI, while Madi Buschjost and Courtney Russell each had two hits and two RBI.