The Effingham Lady Hearts only scored in one inning Monday afternoon, but it proved to be enough.
The Lady Hearts scored six times in the opening frame and then hung on for a 6-5 win at home against the Newton Lady Eagles.
Sidney Donaldson belted a two-run homer and Madi Kirk delivered a bases-clearing double, helping Effingham jump out to the 6-0 lead.
Newton made it close by scoring a pair of runs in the fourth and adding three more in the fifth. But Saige Althoff retired six of the final seven batters to secure the victory.
In that first inning, Raegan Boone got things started with a lead-off triple. With one out, Donaldson blasted the first pitch she saw over the centerfield fence, staking EHS to a 2-0 lead.
Natalie Armstrong and Mya Harvey followed with base hit. With two outs, Ryley Engel reached on an error that loaded the bases. Kirk then came through with a double that brought all three runners home. Alyssa Martin capped the inning with an RBI single to make it 6-0.
Althoff pitched all seven innings. She allowed nine hits and five runs. She didn’t walk a hitter and struck out three.
The Lady Hearts, now 4-4, will return to action Saturday, traveling to Mahomet-Seymour for an Apollo Conference matchup.