Fayette was unable to hand Marceline its first loss of the season on Thursday. The Lady Tigers left Fayette with a 13-2 win, clinching at least a share of the Lewis & Clark Conference championship.

Marceline had won five of its six previous conference by double digit runs, with an 8-1 win over Schuyler County being the only exception. The Falcons needed to have a solid game at the plate, and in the field, and catch a few breaks to upset the Lady Tigers.

Instead, the play on the field and the breaks went in favor of Marceline and Fayette trailed 9-0 going into the bottom of the first inning. Marceline made Fayette pay for four errors with three extra-base hits in the opening frame.

Fayette was playing without starting shortstop Preslee Sunderland, who suffered an ankle injury in a win over Paris on Tuesday. The Falcons outfielders seemed to have difficulty tracking fly balls in a stiff wind.

Addison Newell, Megan Lewis and Breanna Estes hit consecutive one-out singles in the bottom of the first inning to load the bases for Bella Asbury.

Asbury fell behind 0-2, but fouled off a pitch, took a ball, and then lined the ball into right field to score two runs.  

Abby Nation had a one-out single in the second inning, but that would be the last hit of the game for Fayette. Leah Lembke was hit by a pitch and advanced to second base on a fielder's choice in the fourth inning. 

Marceline starter Cassi Rodgers did not walk a batter and struck out four in the five-inning game.