Sweet Home almost let the Newport get away with the win in their season opener last week, but the Huskies came back in the final inning to win 9-6 at Newport on March 14.
Neither team scored for three innings, but in the fourth, Marissa Kurtz and Sydney Mauer each scored a run to go ahead 2-0. Newport scored a run in the fifth, but in the top of six, Sunhee Bitter scored a run to give the Huskies a 3-1 lead.
“They got on (pitcher Brianna) Hoffman for a little bit,” said Coach Shane Cochran, and Newport was able to score five runs and get ahead 6-3. “She walked a couple. They hit a few and got on a roll.”
Sweet Home was able to hold that sixth-inning rally to five runs.
The Huskies started hitting the ball and had a couple of walks, rolling through their entire lineup, to launch themselves back into the lead, 9-6.
Scoring runs in the final inning were Melbye, Ally Tow, Madi Barringer, Kurtz, Mauer and Bitter.
Sarita Zanona, Tow and Hoffman each collected two hits, Zanona and Hoffman batted in two runs, and Tow had one RBI. Bitter, Makena Melbye and Brittany Zook each had a hit.
On the mound, Hoffman gave up six hits and four walks. She struck out 12 Newport batters.
“They girls, they played really good,” Cochran said. “They never gave up. We learned a lot and have a lot to build off of.”
The Huskies headed to Medford Monday, March 21, for a two-day, four-game tournament. They host Yamhill-Carlton on Saturday.
Sweet Home 000 201 6 – 9 9 0
Newport 000 015 0 – 6 6 1