A five-run sixth inning propelled the Newton baseball team past Pella Christian for an 8-4 win heard live on 92.1 KRLS Friday night.

The Cardinals and Eagles were locked in a tight matchup through the first five and half innings, before Newton’s offense found its stride. Pella Christian jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, before Newton tied the game in the bottom of the second and took a 2-1 advantage in the bottom of the fourth. The Eagles plated two runs in the fifth inning to retake a 3-2 lead, but it was short lived as the Cardinals added a run in the bottom of the frame to knot the score up at 3-3. The tide shifted in Newton’s favor in the sixth, with the Cardinals using three hits, two errors, a walk, a hit by pitch, and a sacrifice fly to plate five runs and take an 8-3 lead. Pella Christian scratched across another run with one out in the seventh inning, but it wasn’t enough as Newton shut down the rally with a pair of strikeouts to end the game.

The Cardinals were led offensively in the victory by Creighton Andrew, who went 1-3 at the plate with two RBIs and a walk. Andrew also got the start on the mound, pitching four innings and allowing just three hits, two walks, and one run. Gabe Otto recorded the win on the mound, throwing two innings in relief while posting three strikeouts and allowing three runs on three hits and two walks. Grant Kelderman went 2-3 with a triple, two runs scored, and an RBI to lead the Pella Christian offense, and also struck out five in his first start of the season on the mound while pitching three innings and allowing just one run on two walks.

Newton improved to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the Little Hawkeye Conference, while Pella Christian fell to 1-5 overall and 0-3 in the league. The Cardinals are back in home action on Monday for a conference doubleheader against Pella. The Eagles also return to action Monday, hosting Norwalk for their first home conference doubleheader of the season.