March 29, 2024

Cardinal bats silenced again

The Cardinals have likely seen all they’ve wanted of Oskaloosa pitcher Kylee Silliman.

The sophomore stymied Newton Wednesday night for the second time this season and helped the Class 4A eighth-ranked Indians to a 10-0 victory.

Silliman limited the Cardinals to only two hits without issuing a walk. After a one-out single from Newton’s Lizzie Stock in the third inning, Silliman retired the next 10 batters she faced and 14 of the final 15. Sydney Jenkins was the only Cardinal to reach base during that span, doing so in the sixth inning on an error by Indian second baseman Alexis Westercamp.

The Cardinals’ best chance of scoring came in the second inning when they had runners on first and second with two outs. Fran Lucas grounded out to second to end that threat.

In 13 appearances this season, Silliman has allowed two hits or fewer four times. Two of those performances have been against Newton. She threw a no-hitter against the Cardinals and struck out 12 on June 16.

Newton (6-21) did little to help its own cause defensively Wednesday, committing five errors.

The Indians scored in every inning but the second and knocked out 14 hits against Cardinals pitcher Ashton Hoffman.

Callie Arnold and Silliman both contributed three hits for the Indians (26-3) and Aubrey Miller added a seventh-inning, two-run homer.

Wednesday’s loss marked the second time this season the Cardinals have been shutout in consecutive games. Class 4A No. 1 Dallas Center-Grimes held Newton scoreless in a doubleheader June 11.

Newton wraps up play before the Fourth of July holiday with a doubleheader tonight at Grinnell.