The Newton varsity softball team learned the hard way that errors can quickly turn a game around.

The Lady Rams dropped an 8-2 non-region decision to Putnam County at home Wednesday afternoon, committing five errors in the second inning leading to four Putnam County runs.

Newton recorded eight hits in the loss, including an inside-the-park home run from shortstop Ciara Bryan, but the Lady Rams’ costly errors in the field were too much to overcome against the Lady War Eagles.

“What can you say?” Newton head coach Virginia Waters said. “You’re going to be lucky every once in a while to win ball games when you make five errors. If you’re going to make that many errors, you better be on fire with the bats. We weren’t. We were slow, we looked tired (and) we had lazy swings. It’s a non-region game, but it’s still a loss and I hate losing.”

Down 5-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning, the Lady Rams’ offense looked listless the first time through the order, recording just one hit through the line-up. Bryan gave Newton its first spark of the game leading-off in the frame with an inside-the-park home run to center field over the Putnam County defense.

“She stepped up,” Waters said. “You can’t do anything (against her) speed. It’s amazing how much speed she has.”

The Lady Rams’ second run came in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs. Katy Ammons plated third baseman Markayla Price with a single after a Price walk to cut the Lady War Eagles’ lead to 7-2.

Newton threatened Putnam County's lead again in its final at-bat in the sixth inning, as Ashley Weesner reached base on an out-field single with two outs, but the Lady Rams were unable to score Weesner, falling by six runs.

“They didn’t have any errors,” Waters said. “They made the plays when they were supposed to make the plays.”

After a scoreless first inning, Putnam County plated four runs in the top of the second, scoring its first run on a Taylor Daniels’ single. The Lady War Eagles added a pair of runs on a Newton throwing error before Delacy Styes touched home on Newton’s final error of the inning. Newton’s errors in the field allowed Putnam County to carry a 4-0 lead into the bottom-half of the inning.

Putnam County added a run in the top of the third on a Newton wild pitch before Bryan’s score in the bottom of the frame. The Lady War Eagles closed their scoring in the top of the fifth, as Daniels reached home on a passed ball and Dakotah Young scored on a Newton throwing error for a 8-2 advantage.

Bryan and Ammons finished with two hits and a RBI apiece to lead the Lady Rams.

Newton’s Madison Cronic earned the loss on the mound, throwing 5-1/3 innings while striking out four batters. Reserve pitcher Ashton McKinnon closed the game, striking out one Lady War Eagle in 1-2/3 innings.

The Lady Rams return to action on Thursday when they travel to Luella in region play for a 5:30 p.m. contest.