March 19, 2024

Newton softball rides big inning to win over Grinnell

The Newton Cardinal’s softball team bounced back from a Monday loss to second-ranked Oskaloosa by defeating Grinnell 5-1 Tuesday.

The first run of the game came in the third inning. Taylor Ryan stayed hot at the plate by ripping an RBI double to the wall scoring Frances Lucas and giving Newton a 1-0 lead.

Payton Maher pitched in the circle for the Cardinals and found herself in a jam in the fifth inning.

With runners on second and third and two outs on the board, Grinnell smashed a hit through the middle tying the game at 1-1, but the go ahead runner was gunned down at home plate ­­— ending the threat.

That’s when the Cardinal bats heated up.

Newton regained the lead in the bottom half when Kari Adams started the big inning with a lead-off double. Lucas, Sydney Jenkins and Karley Leiker also reached base before a single out was made.

Everything went Newton’s way in the inning as it also benefited from a Grinnell error.

A grounder slipped past their first baseman’s glove and rolled down the foul line allowing another run to reach home.

Eight Cardinals swung the bat in the inning and four runners crossed the plate.

The bats quieted down again and neither team scored after that.

Maher closed the final two innings from the circle giving the Cardinals a win and improving their record to 13-15. Maher struck out 10 in the match and earned the 5-1 victory.

Each team hit the ball well in the fifth, but the Cardinals found more gaps in the Grinnell.

“Our defense was solid when we needed it to be, when we ended up in that tight situation,” head coach Kristina McNew said. “What got us around was we finally started hitting the ball.”

Softball will host Pella 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Berg Middle School. In the previous meeting at Pella June 25, Newton fell 6-2.