Columbus, Ga. – The Wolves (10-7) suited up for the first contest of the day against the Parrots of Barry (7-13), seeing a final score of 6-2.
Defense for the Wolves kept a threatening Parrots team from getting on the board first. Newberry would force Barry to fly out on the opening pitch and strikeout swinging on the following one. A series of singles would nab a couple of Parrots bases but a fielder's choice from shortstop Natalie Willis to second baseman Morgan Wagaman secured the final out of the inning giving the Wolves a chance to get their offense going early.
Newberry wasted no time as McKenzie Barneycastle was walked and stole second base. Tori Caldwell also took a stroll to first base as she was waked by Barry pitcher, Geneva Santos. On a sacrifice bunt Willis advanced Caldwell and Barneycastle a base to put them in scoring position.
Due up next for the Wolves was designated player Haley Simonds, who like others before her found herself on base because of a walk. With a bases loaded situation, senior Allison Van Atta sent a blast into left field to send Barneycastle and Caldwell home.
Trying to keep the inning alive Paige Meyer reached base on a fielder's choice which sent Simonds to third but saw Van Atta out at second. A ground out would end the Wolves' opening campaign but not before they obtained two runs, on just one hit, with no errors, and two left on base.
The following several innings were evenly matched as both teams amped up their respective play. Newberry's pitching and defense kept Barry scoreless through these innings. The Parrots tallied no runs, two hits, and left one stranded. Newberry left one stranded as they tried to maintain their 2-0 lead.
Barry responded to Newberry's opening statement of two runs in the top of the fifth. A homerun to center field tied the game up at 2-2.
The Wolves threatened in the fifth as Sydney Patterson pinch hit for Wagaman and singled into left field. Caldwell singled to the shortstop and advanced Patterson to second. Willis reached on a fielder's choice that sent Caldwell to second and saw Patterson out at third. Newberry posted two hits before a ground out concluded the inning and left two on base.
The Parrots' offense kept things rolling in the top of the sixth where they tacked on four more runs which saw them win 6-2.
Newberry will conclude their play in the Columbus State Tournament against Bloomfield with first pitch at 2:00 p.m.
