The Newton baseball team broke open a close game with five runs in the fifth inning of an eventual 8-0 victory over Marshalltown on Tuesday night at the MHS diamond.

The visiting Cardinals (2-2) led 2-0 before breaking loose in the fifth, scoring five times on just two hits but four walks and a hit batsman. MHS catcher Garrett Thede threw out consecutive would-be base-stealers at third to help end the threat, but the Bobcats (3-2) managed just one baserunner the rest of the way.

Starting pitcher Aiden Holmgren took the hard-luck loss despite allowing only one earned run on two hits and one walk over four innings, striking out five. He threw 42 of 56 pitches for strikes, including 13 of 15 first-pitch strikes.

Paxson Reese-Miller and Santiago Mora struggled through the fifth inning, while James Miron and Jalen Logsdon both pitched an inning in relief.

“We were able to compete early in the game but then we couldn’t stay consistent around the (strike) zone,” said MHS head coach Colton Hanke. “We gave up seven walks and five of them scored. We need to be better than that heading into Thursday night.”

The Bobcat bats came away with just four singles — two for Logsdon, one for Miron and another for Madden Martin.

Newton leadoff batter Gabe Otto went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Cardinals to their 10th consecutive win in the series. Lane Rozendaal pitched five shutout innings for the win, allowing three hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

Marshalltown is back at home on Thursday, facing Waterloo East for a 5 p.m. doubleheader.