Things got a little bit better for the East Newton Lady Patriots softball team Tuesday, but not enough. A day after getting shutout and losing to Webb City on Nicole Hudson’s perfect game, the Lady Patriots struggled at the plate Tuesday, falling to Aurora, 6-1, in the Big 8 Conference opener. Aurora took advantage of five errors to spoil the Big 8 Conference opener for East Newton at Patriot Field. “This was very disappointing after yesterday’s performance,” said East Newton coach Jamey Gilion. Of the six runs that the Lady Houns scored, only two were earned. Aurora jumped out to a 3-0 lead over East Newton. In the first inning, Zoe DeMoss drew a one-out walk and scored when Jamie Nash’s single was misplayed and each runner moved up a base. Nash, at second base after the error, scored on an error. In the second inning, a walk, an error and an RBI double by Nash gave Aurora a 3-0 lead. The Lady Patriots (4-4 overall, 0-1 in Big 8) scored their lone run in the third inning. Natasha Hussong, who singled, scored on Heyley Heupel’s RBI single. East Newton stranded a runner and had one runner thrown out at home in the inning. Aurora tacked on three more runs over the final four innings. In the top of the fourth inning, another two out rally led to runs. DeMoss singled and scored on a hit by Nash that was an error. Nash would later score on a passed ball. In the seventh inning, Jackie Davis singled and scored on Ashton Hilton’s RBI sin ...