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Newton wins 6-5 in 7th against Columbia
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Newton refused to end its winning streak, despite being three outs from a two-run loss Saturday.

The Rams put three runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Columbia 6-5 in the first game of a double header, in which they won both games.

Newton (10-10) put its leadoff runner on base on a walk, and then an out later Tripp Loftin flied out to right field to make it a one-run game.

After a two-out walk by Ryan McCranie, Allen Bowen came up with men on third and first. Bowen doubled to left field to tie it.

Sherman Graves was next to the plate with a runner on and two outs in a tie game. Graves hit a grounder toward the Eagles shortstop, who fumbled the play. The delay in fielding the ball, allowed Graves to slide in under the tag, scoring for second.

Newton managed the win despite not leading the whole game. The Rams had just three hits throughout but committed just two errors.

Columbia opened the game with a run in the top of the first inning as Jalen Atterbury reached on one of Newton's two errors. Atterbury then scored on an RBI single to left field by Trent Nash.

After both teams came up scoreless in the next two half of innings, Newton tied it in the bottom of the second.
Graves reached on single and advanced to second and third on two separate throwing errors. Zach Sullivan drove a ball to the left fielder, scoring Graves.

Columbia took control in the third, scoring three runs on three hits and an error.

William Belcher led off with a hit toward the pitcher that went past his glove. Belcher was later caught stealing but the next batter, Travis Taylor hit a double. Demitrius Jones then walked and both base runners advanced on a wild pitch. Demitrius Jones brought them both home on a ground rule double for a 4-1 lead.

The Eagles wouldn't add another run until the top of the seventh.

Newton continued to stay in it, putting a run on the board in the third and fifth innings.

Tripp Lofton came up in the third with one out and reached on a fielder's choice.

Lofton came home on an error by Columbia's pitcher.

After a strikeout and a double play in the fourth, Newton struck again in the fifth for a 4-3 lead.

Columbia gave itself a cushion as Atterbury led off with a double. He would score on a sacrifice by Nash.

Coming in, Newton had scored a combined 23 runs in two games, both wins.

The Rams struggled with the bats against Columbia but would go on to make up for it in the nightcap.

Newton enters the second half of its Region 2-AAAAA schedule Tuesday when it travels to Newnan.

The Rams are currently fifth in the region behind Westlake, East Coweta, Newnan and Luella.

Luella is the region's top team at 8-1.