March 28, 2024

Newton girls lose to Wilton, CMB in West Marshall tournament

STATE CENTER — Newton’s Cardinals came up empty in the West Marshall softball tournament Saturday.

They dropped a 4-1 decision to Wilton in their first game. In the second game, the Cardinals drew a 3-0 lead in the first inning against Collins-Maxwell/Baxter, but the Raiders rolled to seven runs in the next two innings on their way to a 10-7 victory.

CMB (10-9) also racked up wins over Des Moines Christian, 11-1, and West Marshall, 6-0, in the tournament.

Newton scored its only run against Wilton in the first inning. Lizzie Stock doubled and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kari Adams. Sydney Jenkins walked and Stock scored on a fielder’s choice by Madison Bagnall.

The Cardinals had just two more hits in the game. Adams doubled and Alex Hutchinson singled. Wilton scored twice in the first, once each in the third and sixth innings.

Jenkins was the losing pitcher for Newton. She threw a complete game, allowing nine hits, walking one, hitting one batter and striking out one.

Against CMB things started out well for the Cardinals. Stock and Adams reached on back-to-back Raider errors in the first inning. Stock was thrown out trying to steal third base. Bagnall delivered a one-out double to drive in a run then Hutchinson hit a two-run double.

Up 3-0, the Cardinals gave up four runs to the Raiders in the second. Payge Jurgens cranked out a solo home run to start the inning. Abbey Applegate drove a single to center field and Mikayla Eslinger was hit by a pitch from Newton’s Ashton Hoffman.

A base hit by Megan Ritter filled the bases. Veronica Condon quickly chased three runs in with a double to left field.

CMB added three more runs in the third. Abbie Haupert singled and Applegate drew a one-out walk. Eslinger had an RBI base hit and then with two gone, Condon reached on an error allowing two runs to cross home plate.

The Cardinals scored a run in the fourth. Kaytlin Ahn tripled and scored on a passed ball.

The Raiders answered with a run in the fifth. Jurgens doubled, Applegate walked and Eslinger singled. Ritter’s sacrifice fly produced the run. Hoffman coaxed two pop-ups to second base to end the threat.

Newton battled back to within one run in the bottom of the fifth. Adams singled, stole second and moved to third on a passed ball. Jenkins’ base hit drove in the run.

Jenkins swiped second followed by a one-out error allowing Hoffman to reach first base. Hutchinson had an RBI fielder’s choice and another run scored on an error.

The Raiders scored two insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. Applegate singled followed by a fielder’s choice by Eslinger. A one-out single by Ritter put two runners on base. Condon reached on a error allowing two runs to score.

CMB pitcher Heather Jessen and the Raiders retired the Cardinals in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game. Jessen picked up the win, allowing seven hits, walking two and striking out two. The Raider defense committed three errors.

Hoffman took the pitching loss for Newton. She gave up 11 hits, walked two, hit one batter and struck one out.

Ahn tripled while Bagnall and Hutchinson each doubled for Newton. Hitting a single each were Stock, Adams, Jenkins and Fran Lucas.

CMB’s offense was led by Jurgens with the home run and a double. Applegate, Eslinger and Ritter each had two singles. Condon doubled. Taylor Ross and Haupert had a single apiece.

Newton, which didn’t play at Ames because of rain Thursday, is 4-16 overall. The Cardinals take a 3-9 mark into tonight’s Little Hawkeye Conference game at Pella Christian.

CMB hosts Nevada tonight in Heart of Iowa Conference play at Collins.