A few days after seeing a come-from-behind effort come up just short against always tough nonconference foe St Joseph of Trumbull, Newtown High School’s softball team rallied to defeat another FCIAC opponent, Ridgefield, 11-8 at home on April 6.

The Nighthawks fell behind 5-0 to St Joseph before clawing back only to lose 6-4 on April 3. Against Ridgefield, Newtown overcame deficits of 4-2 and 6-4. The Hawks strung their hits together for a six-run sixth inning to turn a 6-5 deficit into an 11-6 lead and held off the Tigers, who got the potential tying run on base in the top of the seventh.

“I’m impressed that they never give up, that they never think they are out of the game,” Newtown Coach Joanna Closs said.

A walk, two infield singles, and wild pitch gave Newtown a run in the fifth, making it a 6-5 game.

Nighthawk pitcher Shauna Tucker worked around first and third, no outs and bases loaded with one out to escape the top of the sixth unscathed.

In the bottom half of the frame, Newtown’s scoring barrage started out innocently enough. Sienna Cummings beat out a bunt single with one out and Jackie Moccio worked the count full before drawing a walk. What should have been a ground out off the bat of Katie Goyda turned into a fielder’s choice, and everybody was safe when Cummings beat the throw to third, loading the bases.

Angela Carriero blooped a two-run single to right, giving the Hawks a 7-6 edge. Kim Buttery reached on another fielder’s choice grounder when Goyda hustled home and beat the throw, making the score 8-6.

After an intentional walk to Ryssa Swanson and a forced out at home, Madelyn Winzig delivered a clean two-out, two-run single to center field to double Newtown’s lead to four runs. A wild pitch gave Newtown it’s 11th run.

“They put the ball in play. They put pressure on the bases and we weren’t intense and aggressive enough to make the plays we should have,” Ridgefield Coach Lauren Greywacz said.

“That’s what we’ve been preaching with hitting is put the ball into play and good base running. A routine play is a tough play because of speed,” Closs said.

Ridgefield scored twice and left the bases loaded in its final at-bat as Tucker ended things with a strikeout.

Winzig and Kendra Saunders knocked in runs in the second inning.

Down 4-2 in the third, Newtown evened the score when Swanson drilled a two-out, two-run single to left. The Tigers bounced back with two runs in the fourth.

In the loss to St Joe’s, the Hawks fell behind 5-0 after an inning and a half. Only two of the St Joe’s runs were earned, but errors hurt the Nighthawks in this one.

“She’s cool as a cucumber — picks up the team,” Closs said of Tucker’s effort in the pitcher’s circle. “She took one of the top teams in the state and had them baffled,” Closs said.

Jackie Moccio had a two-run single, and Carriero hit a solo home run to highlight the offensive work against St Joseph.

Newtown defeated visiting Pomperaug of Southbury 7-3 on April 8 and improved to 3-1 heading into Wednesday’s scheduled visit to Joel Barlow of Redding.

Sophomore pitcher Grace Eurell made her first varsity start and got the win. Eurell mostly worked around five hits and eight walks, striking out five.

The Nighthawks had nine hits and six walks and struck out just twice. They plated a trio of runs in the second inning and never looked back.

Moccio had a two-run single and run scored. Buttery went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Swanson also went 2-for-4, doubled, drove in a run, and scored a run. Winzig had a hit and three runs scored. Saunders contributed a hit, RBI, and run scored.