Newton baseball snaps losing streak against Oskaloosa

OSKALOOSA — The Newton baseball team was out-hit by Oskaloosa on Monday, but two Indian errors helped the Cardinals grab a lead and the visitors held on for a 3-2 win during Little Hawkeye Conference action.

Newton scored twice in the fifth to break a scoreless tie and then went ahead 3-0 with another run in the sixth. Oskaloosa scored twice in the sixth, but it wasn’t enough.

Finn Martin pitched into the seventh inning, Derek Wermager got his first career save and Kreytein Wickliffe collected two hits to lead the offense.

Martin (4-3) allowed two runs — one earned — on seven hits, one walk and two hit batters in 6 2/3 innings.

He struck out three and was pulled after 113 pitches. Martin lowered his earned run average to 1.35.

Wermager struck out the only batter he faced to earn his first career varsity save.

Wickliffe added one run, one RBI and one steal, Skyler Milheiser doubled and stole one base and Landry Rausch tallied one hit and one run. Milheiser leads the Cardinals with 29 total bases.

Oskaloosa out-hit the Cardinals (7-17, 3-12 in the LHC) 7-5, but the Indians had two of the game’s three errors.

Eli Stewart had the other hit, Mason Mendez walked once, Braelyn Parks tallied one RBI and Cade Bauer scored one run. John Frietsch stole one base.

The Indians (7-18, 3-12) were led by Lukas Toubekis, who had two hits and one run. Trey Parks (3-2) allowed two earned runs and took the pitching loss after tossing five innings.

Newton snapped its three-game losing skid against Oskaloosa, which dropped its fifth straight game. The Indians have lost nine of their past 11 games.