Cardinal girls fall to No. 8 Oskaloosa

OSKALOOSA — After being held hitless in the opening game of the Little Hawkeye Conference doubleheader by Iowa Class 4A eighth-ranked Oskaloosa’s Indians, Newton’s Cardinals had the Indians in the same situation through three innings.

The Indians had scored a run in the first inning of the second game on a walk, two fielder’s choices and an error. Lizzie Stock, who was the starting pitcher for Newton, and the Cardinals had not given up a hit.

With one gone in the top of the fourth, Ashton Hoffman singled, which was followed by a two-run home run from Kaytlin Ahn. The Cardinals were up 2-1 on the Indians.

Oskaloosa responded with a seven-hit bottom of the fourth. The Indians scored 13 runs on those seven hits, four walks and two Newton errors to notch a 14-1 win in four innings.

Stock gave way to Hoffman in the circle during the fourth inning. The Cardinal defense made three errors in the game.

The only other hit by the Cardinals in the second game was a single by Alex Hutchinson.

“We lacked desire and fire tonight,” Newton head coach Ashley Ryan said. “We didn’t adjust to the umpires’ strike zone and the pitchers’ different pitches.”

Hoffman took the loss in the first game, a 6-0 decision. She allowed six hits, but also walked five, hit two batters and had one strikeout.

The only base runner Newton had in the opener was Ahn, who was hit by a pitch in the second inning.

Newton fell to 3-12 overall and 2-7 in Little Hawkeye Conference play. The Cardinals host Class 4A, fifth-ranked Norwalk (13-3, 5-2) in a LHC doubleheader tonight at Berg Middle School. First pitch is 6 p.m.