WICHITA - The Newman softball team picked up its first win of the season Tuesday night, earning a split with Southwestern Oklahoma State in a double-header played at Newman Softball Field. The Jets dropped an 8-5 decision to the Bulldogs in the first game, then rallied for a 13-12 win in game two.

Game 1: SWOSU 8, Newman 5
A big sixth inning turned a close game into a slug fest in Tuesday's opener. Southwestern Oklahoma State (16-7) took advantage of two Newman (0-11) errors to plate a run in the first inning, and led until the fifth inning when Kayla Bontrager, who walked to open the inning, scored on an Amy Bullerman single to right field, tying the game at 1-1 going into the sixth frame.

The sixth inning was one that Newman would just as soon forget. SWOSU tagged Newman pitcher Allison Thummel for seven hits, which resulted in seven runs as the Bulldogs took an 8-1 lead with just six outs remaining for the Jets. Newman put together an offensive run of its own in the bottom of the sixth. Lauren Rorebeck walked to start the inning, and advanced to second on a Jennifer Stasiewicz single to left. A Bontrager double to center allowed Rorebeck to score, and gave the Jets runners at second and third with no outs. Tracey Stefanski cashed her runners in with a double of her own, this time to right field, and narrowed the SWOSU lead to 8-4. Amy Schneider made sure Stefanski was rewarded for her double by pushing Stefanski across the plate on a single through the left side and drawing the Jets to within three, 8-5, but a Bullerman pop fly to right field ended the Newman rally. Neither team was able to score in the seventh inning as the Bulldogs escaped with the 8-5 win.

Bullerman and Schneder each finished two-for-four with one RBI to lead the Jets offensively in the loss. Allison Thummel pitched a complete game, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits while walking four and striking out five as she fell to 0-8 this season.

Game 2: Newman 13, SWOSU 12
The scoreboard at NU Softball Field got a work-out in Tuesday's night-cap as both teams combined for 25 runs on 27 hits and eight errors. Runs were scored six of the seven innings played as the Jets picked up their first win of the season in a 13-12 win over SWOSU.

Southwestern Oklahoma State (16-8) notched one run in their first at bat of the game, and took an early 1-0 advantage, but Newman (1-12) responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the opening inning to take its first lead of the game. Amy Schneider opened the Jets' second contest of the day with a triple down the right field line. Jennifer Stasiewicz followed with a single of her own to left field that allowed Schneider to score from third to tie the game at 1-1. Newman's next batter, Kayla Bontrager, reached base on an error by SWOSU shortstop Raven Staats that allowed Stasiewicz to move to third. Erin Schmidt made sure Stasiewicz scored, launching a sacrifice fly to right field. After one inning of play, Newman held a 2-1 lead.

The Jets didn't stop there. Newman took advantage of SWOSU's Kristina Davis, who pitched the entire opening game for the Bulldogs, and tacked on three more runs in the second, and a solo run in the third, taking a 6-1 lead into the fourth inning.

It took just one inning for the Bulldogs to claw their way back into the game. SWOSU finally found a way to hit Newman pitcher Danielle Cobb. When the dust settled on the top of the fourth inning, the Bulldogs had added five runs on five hits, and had tied the game at 6-6.

Unphased, the Jets went right back to work in their half of the fourth. Stasiewicz opened the inning with a single to center field. Bontrager pushed Stasiewicz to second with a single to left, and Lauren Rorebeck moved both runners over when she walked to load the bases. Again, Schmidt made sure her team cashed in with runners in scoring position, sending a double to right field to score Stasiewicz and Bontrager. A Katie Traffas single to center allowed Rorebeck to score, and allowed Newman to take a 9-6 lead into the fifth. After a rare phenomenon in the form of a scoreless fifth inning, Newman added yet another run in the sixth when a solo home run by Rorebeck gave the Jets a 10-6 lead heading into the final inning.

Things got interesting in the seventh. The Bulldog offense came alive at the expense of Allison Thummel, who replaced reliever Erin Schmidt in the circle for the Jets to start the sixth inning. SWOSU took advantage of four walks in the inning, to plate six runs on two hits, and still had the bases loaded when their inning ended. After 6 1/2 innings of play, the resurgent Bulldogs held a 12-10 lead.

Once again, Newman was up to the challenge in their final at bat. Bullerman walked to open the inning, and advanced to third on Schneider's second double of the game. Stasiewicz was on the scene once again and drilled a single up the middle to score both Bullerman and Schneider, and tied the game at 12-12 with one out. A Bontrager pop fly to the catcher sent Rorebeck to the plate with Stasiewicz on first. Rorebeck did her job, singling to right to move Stasiewicz to third. At that point, it appeared that the game may come down to Allison Tummel's at bat, but a meeting of the umpires revealed the obstruction had occurred as Stasiewicz was running the bases, and as a result, Stasiewicz was awarded home plate, which resulted in the run that allowed the Jets to win their first game of the season.

It was a fitting end to the game for Stasiewicz, who led the Jets offensively, going three-for-five at the plate with four runs scored and three runs batted in. Schneider was impressive as well, going three-for-five with two doubles that resulted in three runs scored and one run batted in, while Katie Traffas finished three-for-four with two runs scored and one run batted in.

Allison Thummel earned her first win of the season, improving to 1-8 after posting two innings of work.


With the win, the Jets improve to 1-12 on the season. They will look to start a winning streak Friday when they host St. Edward's in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. at NU Softball Field.