There wasn't much offense on Tuesday.

North Callaway still emerged the victor in a 2-0 win over Eastern Missouri Conference and Class 2 District 2 foe Louisiana. The Class 2 No. 7 Ladybirds stayed an undefeated 5-0 at home after Megan Schmidt tied her career-high 16 strikeouts in seven innings and Liv Knoepflein's double scored the game's only runs in the fourth inning.

North Callaway vs Louisiana Photo Gallery

"All of us were coming together on defense and offense, staying positive and talking to one another," Knoepflein said after winning the game that only had four combined hits. 

Schmidt allowed Louisiana to have one hit while walking four. It was her fifth outing of one or fewer hits but her second seven-inning one. 

"There was the determination to keep playing," Schmidt said. "It was a tight game and not a lot happened, but we made sure we stayed in the game and were focused the entire time."

Head coach Mariah McKee said picking up a win in the Eastern Missouri Conference always means extra and adding a victory within the district is a bonus. North Callaway has defeated conference and district foe Elsberry 6-2 this year but lost 7-6 last week at another such opponent Montgomery County. 

Montgomery County and Elsberry are ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, in the state rankings ahead of North Callaway. 

"Our conference, they're scrappy," McKee said. "It's tough because there are 11 of us. Anytime we can get a conference win, it's a great day. Anybody can beat anybody on any given day in our conference."

McKee said Louisiana can be described as "scrappy" and had to find baserunners any way it could against Schmidt. Her No. 1 pitcher was great last year, McKee said, and Schmidt looks to be ready for yet another great season. 

"From last year to this year, she is stronger," McKee said. "She's got more velocity. She has a couple more pitches. She's really growing into herself. She commands a circle, and that game is hers when she's in the circle."

McKee said North Callaway's defense supports Schmidt well. After walking the first batter of the game. Catcher Addison Bedsworth picked off the runner leaning off first base, and Kymorie Myers applied the tag.

"I've been throwing it fast," Schmidt said. "That has helped a lot, especially improving speed, spin and movement."

Mattie Chandler was good for Louisiana in the circle, allowing two unearned runs along with four strikeouts, three hits and two walks in six innings. McKee said North Callaway had a better read on Chandler after one time through the lineup and noticed she was throwing the riseball and pitching inside. 

"I was just telling the girls to keep their hands inside and pull the ball to the left side, make sure we were driving quick and getting our hands through," McKee said.

One night after driving a pitch to left field for an inside-the-park home run in a 14-3 home victory over Fulton, Knoepflein hit another pitch to left field for a RBI double. However, she didn't stop there after a the ball got away from third base on her attempt to take an extra base and she got all the bases. 

"I am tired," Knoepflein said about her second round trip around the bases in as many nights. "I slowed down there toward going home because it's a jaunt."

McKee said it was an easy decision to "let her run" the past two nights due to her speed and skill on the bases.

Going into the game, the senior Knoepflein ranked in the top three on the team in batting average, RBIs, doubles and hits. Knoepflein said she keeps it simple.

"I just go up there and look for a pitch I want to hit and just have at it," Knoepflein said. 

Schmidt and Knoepflein were unaware that North Callaway is state-ranked but knows for certain that they have a good team. McKee agreed and said how the season ends is up to them.

"They have the potential to win their district and go on," McKee said. "They control that though. They're going to have to control their own destiny and control what they can control."

North Callaway plays at Fatima (8-11) at 5 p.m. Wednesday.