Top-seeded Newtown High School’s softball team took a few innings to get going, but after breaking open a scoreless game in the fourth, the Nighthawks rolled past No. 8 Notre Dame-Fairfield 10-0 in the South-West Conference tournament quarterfinals, on May 22.

Newtown pitcher Gillian Galante was dominant throughout, compiling 13 strikeouts, allowing only two hits, and issuing a pair of walks along the way.

Notre Dame nearly escaped the fourth inning unscathed, but a safe call at second base on a close play in which it appeared the Lancers might have had the third out, gave the Hawks life that they took advantage of. Mackenzie Macchiarulo smacked a first-pitch, three-run double off the center fielder’s glove, and Haley Ryan followed with an RBI double to left for a 4-0 lead.

In the fifth, Emily Woznick’s run-scoring groundout extended the lead to five. Newtown busted the game wide open with five runs in the sixth. The Hawks loaded the bases with no outs, and Mikayla Kuligowski lined into a double play at third base, but the Lancers couldn’t get the third out until the home team piled on several more hits.

Sara Kennedy delivered a two-run, stand-up triple to right-center field for a 7-0 lead. Katie Laaksonen followed with a long home run to right for a 9-0 bulge. After a Woznick double, Megan Goyda single, and Kamdynn Moroney walk, Jill Lasorsa – who opened the inning with a single – delivered another base hit to drive in Newtown’s final run.

Newtown will play in the SWC semifinals, at Stratford’s DeLuca Field, on Tuesday, May 26, beginning at 7 pm.