NORWALK — Newton’s Cardinals just got on the scoreboard. They were down 5-1 after four innings. It was still a ballgame.
Unfortunately, Norwalk’s Warriors struck for six runs in the bottom of the sixth to close the door on the visiting Newton girls. Newton lost 11-1 in its Little Hawkeye Conference opener Wednesday night.
“We have to make the plays. We can’t have a routine out turn into an error,” said Newton softball head coach Ashley Ryan.
Norwalk scored twice in the first inning, once in the second and two more times in the third to build a 5-0 lead. Newton scratched out a run in the top of the fourth.
Sydney Jenkins and Lizzie Stock had back-to-back singles for the Cardinals in the fourth inning. With one out, Madison Bagnal was hit by a pitch. Jenkins scored the lone run for Newton. The Cardinals stranded six baserunners in the game.
“We need to be able to adjust at the plate better,” Ryan said, after the Cardinals only had three hits in the contest. Bagnal connected for a single in the game.
Stock took the pitching loss. She allowed 13 hits, walked four and struck out three.
Norwalk’s six-run fifth inning was highlighted by a two-run home run by Katie Elliott. The Warriors are 5-0 overall.
Newton is 0-4 on the season and 0-1 in Little Hawkeye Conference play. The Cardinals host Pella Christian Friday in a LHC doubleheader at Berg Middle School. First pitch is at 6 p.m.