Ryan’s walk-off RBI single gives Cardinal softball a split with Norwalk

Matching run for run, Newton High’s Cardinals and the visiting Norwalk Warriors were tied 4-4 in the second game of a Little Hawkeye Conference doubleheader on Monday at Berg Middle School field. The two softball teams had single runs in the first, second, third and fifth innings.

The Cardinals had a 1-0 lead in the first game and the Warriors tallied two runs in the fifth on their way to a 2-1 victory. Now, it was Newton’s turn.

Harlie Durr led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a solid double. With one gone, Karley Leiker was safe on a fielder’s choice then Taylor Ryan cranked out a walk-off RBI single to lift the Cardinals to a 5-4 win.

With the split of the LHC twin bill, the Cardinals moved to 10-8 in conference play and 16-14 overall. Norwalk is 16-13 overall and 10-6 in LHC action.

Ryan and winning pitcher Peyton Maher each had two singles in the game. Durr had a single and a double. Bailey Davis and Audrey Lucas had a base hit apiece.

Norwalk scored in the first and Newton answered. Lakin Jenkins reached on an error and scored on a two-out passed ball.

The second and third innings were same as the first — one run apiece. For Newton in the second, Davis drew a walk, Lucas singled and Lucas would score on a two-out single by Durr.

In the third frame, Maher singled with two gone and Mackenzie Johnson went in to run for Maher. Johnson stole second base and came around to score on a base hit by Davis.

There was no scoring in the fourth, but again in the fifth it was one and one.

Newton struck with two gone on a single by Ryan, a passed ball and a single by Maher.

Maher allowed five hits — one was a solo home run by Alyx Witt in the fifth — walked three and struck out five for the pitching win. Newton had one error.

Anna Coyle pitched as well for Newton in the opener. She gave up five hits, walked two and struck out five, but the Cardinals committed three errors defensively and stranded seven base runners offensively.

The Cardinals cored a run in the third isnning. Jenkins reached on a one-out Warrior miscue and came home on a single by Karley Leiker.

Norwalk took advantage of one of the Newton errors in the fifth inning. With two on and one out, Miranda Hughes doubled in both runs.

Karley Leiker and Ryan each had two base hits in the game for Newton. Davis doubled and Jenkins singled.

Newton hosts Class 4A 13th-ranked Boone for a 7:30 p.m. non-conference game Tuesday at Berg Middle School.

It’s Senior Night for the Cardinals on Wednesday when 2A No. 8 Pella Christian comes to Newton for a 7:30 p.m. Little Hawkeye Conference contest.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com