Newtown High School’s softball team had a pair of rewarding victories over challenging South-West Conference foes this past week.

The Nighthawks came from behind for a 2-1 walk-off win over visiting Notre Dame-Fairfield under the lights at Treadwell Park on April 29.

They had an unusual mercy-rule triumph over host Brookfield on April 25. The Nighthawks trailed 3-0 through three innings before putting eight runs on the scoreboard in the fourth, and ten more in the fifth on the way to an 18-4 decision that was official after five innings.

Newtown bounced back from a 5-1 loss to visiting Joel Barlow of Redding (9-3 overall and 5-1 in conference play) on April 24 and improved to 6-5 overall and 3-2. Brookfield is 10-2 (4-2) and Notre Dame 8-2 (4-1).

Jackie Moccio had a grand slam and bases-loaded, two-run single to drive in six runs in the fifth inning alone as part of her 3-for-5 day at the plate against Brookfield.

Kendra Saunders was 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored; Ryssa Swanson went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs driven in; Angela Carriero went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI; Natalie Horn was 2-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored; Katie Goyda went 2-for-3 with three runs scored; and Taylor McPadden was 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. McPadden, who was the game’s catcher for Newtown, delivered a clutch hit with a go-ahead two-run single for a 4-3 lead in the fourth. Newtown compiled 18 hits.

Pitcher Shauna Tucker allowed seven hits, struck out four, and did not walk a batter.

In the game against Notre Dame, Nicole Fisher started and pitched very well into the seventh inning, allowing only a fourth-inning run. Fisher scattered five hits, struck out three, and walked three.

Newtown knotted the score in the bottom of the sixth when Saunders led off with a single and scored on Carriero’s double to right center field.

In the top of the seventh, Notre Dame staged a one-out rally with back-to-back singles. Tucker came in and got Newtown out of the jam with a pop out and strikeout.

The Nighthawks capitalized when Moccio reached on a three-base error with one out and Swanson came though with a line drive two-out game-winning hit to left center.

Newtown scored its lone run in the Barlow game in the fifth inning when Horn doubled, was sacrificed to third on a Sienna Cummings bunt, and scored on Heather Stroili’s sacrifice fly. The Nighthawks didn’t go down quietly, loading the bases in the seventh when Goyda singled and Carriero walked with no outs and Madelyn Winzig worked the count full and fouled off several pitches before walking. Barlow got a strikeout and soft line out to shortstop to end it.

NHS hosts New Fairfield Wednesday, May 1, at Treadwell Park, beginning at 6:30 pm.