The Macomb High softball squad started the final week of the regular Monday, dropping a 9-0 decision to visiting Beardstown.
The Tigers scored once in the first inning before adding three runs in the second. The score remained 4-0 until the fifth inning when Beardstown scored twice.
The visitors also scored twice in the sixth and once in the seventh, finishing the contest with 14 hits.
Macomb was held to one hit, a single by Lauren Schmalshof with two outs in the seventh. The Bombers also committed four errors that led to four unearned runs.
Josie Elbe pitched seven innings, allowing nine runs, five earned, on 14 hits. She struck out one, walked one and hit a batter.
Elbe threw 94 pitches, 67 for strikes.
Khloe Kearns was the winning pitcher for Beardstown (18-3), striking out 18. She threw 87 pitches, 68 for strikes.
Ava Quigley and Kylynn Maltby both had three hits and scored twice for the Tigers. Kearns added two hits with two runs batted in, while Hallie Lawson and Ava Knous also knocked in a pair of runs each.
On Tuesday, the Bombers headed to Brimfield to wrap up Prairieland Conference play, facing host Brimfield/ Elmwood.
The host Indians rolled to a 15-0 victory in four innings, clinching the conference title with a perfect 8-0 record.
Brimfield/Elmwood also upped its overall season record to 25-4.
Macomb dropped to 3-18 overall, finishing conference play with a 2-6 record.
MHS was held to just two hits, a double by Kinley Sloan and a single by Schmalshof. Both came in the fourth inning.
The Indians scored seven runs in the first inning before tacking on a single run in the second. Brimfield/ Elmwood added four runs in third before closing out the game by adding three runs in the fourth.
The Indians had 11 hits, also taking advantage of 10 walks issued by Macomb pitching, along with three errors that led to six unearned runs.
Elbe started for MHS and pitched two-thirds of an inning.
She allowed seven runs, three earned, on two hits with five walks.
Sloan pitched the final three innings, allowing eight runs, six earned, on nine hits. She struck out three and walked five.
Schyer Meinders was the winning pitcher for the Indians, striking out nine in four innings. She threw 56 pitches, 41 for strikes.
Sawyer Drury doubled and tripled, scoring twice and knocking in three runs for the hosts. Kendyl Binder also had three hits, including a double, with two runs scored and three batted in.
Brooke Allen tripled and scored three times, while Reese Legaspi also scored three times for the Indians.
The Bombers were set to wrap up their regular season Thursday, heading to Rushville to face host Rushville- Industry (14-6).
On Monday, the Bombers will enter Illinois High School Association Class 2A Regional opening-round play against regional host Farmington (9-12).
Monday’s winner will face top-seeded Stanford Olympia (25-7) in semifinal play Tuesday.
The May 20 semifinal will have No. 4 seed Peoria Notre Dame (16-15) playing No. 5 seed Canton (16-12).
The regional championship game is scheduled for May 22 with the victor advancing to sectional play at Brimfield.
