JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Newman baseball team combined for 42 runs over the opening two games of a three-game series, going 2-1 against the Lincoln Blue Tigers last weekend in Jefferson City, Mo. The Jets dominated the opener in a 26-3 win, then picked up a 16-9 win in game two, before dropping a 5-1 decision in Saturday's series finale.

Game 1: Newman 26, Lincoln 3
The Newman (14-19, 14-17 Heartland) offense made Steven Trevino's life easy on the mound en route to a 26-3 crushing of Lincoln (10-22, 8-22 Heartland), pounding out 26 runs on 21 hits as Trevino went the distance in the seven inning affair.

The Jets made their initial statement in the first inning. Newman's first batter, Kori Melo, reached base on a throwing error from the Lincoln first baseman that allowed Melo to advance to second. A wild pitch advanced Melo to second before Ryan Peterson even had a chance to swing his bat. When Peterson finally did swing the stick, he made the Blue Tigers pay, sending a Justin Forsythe pitch over the center field fence for a two-run home run that gave the Jets a 2-0 edge. Not to be out-done, Brandon Cox made it back-to-back jacks for the Jets with a long ball of his own over the center field fence, pushing Newman's lead to 3-0. Trent Bierman followed with a single to th epitcher, and advanced to second on a wild pitch, then scored on a Matt Cardona single to center field, giving the Jets the 4-0 edge after the opening at-bat.

The Blue Tigers countered with one run in the home half of the first, but Newman re-gained a four-run lead in the second, when Scot Palmer doubled to open the inning, then advanced to third on yet another wild pitch. A sacrifice fly by Melo allowed Palmer to score, giving the Jets a 5-1 advantage after two innings of play.

Lincoln added another solo run in its half of the third, drawing to within three runs at 5-2, but Newman took firm control of the game in the fourth. In short, the Jets sent 15 batters to the plate, and received four singles, a double, two home runs, three hit batsmen, and 11 runs in return, giving the Jets a comfortable 16-2 margin with three innings yet to play.

Newman tacked on 10 more runs over the next two innings while allowing just one Blue Tiger to cross the plate on the way to the 26-3 win; their highest run total since achieving NCAA Div. II full membership last season. The 26 runs was also the most runs scored since May 2, 2008 when the Jets beat Oklahoma Panhandle State 24-8 at McCarthy Field in Wichita.

Cox, Palmer, and Mike Williams each finished with two home runs in Friday's opener. Peterson and John Bonebrake added home runs of their own as the Jets finished the game with a season-high eight long balls. Palmer led the Jets offensively, going five-for-five at the plate with five runs scored, and six runs batted in.

Trevino went the distance for the Jets, improving to 4-4 on the season after giving up just three runs on five hits while striking out three and walking two.

Game 2: Newman 16, Lincoln 9
It wasn't quite the dominating performance that Newman (15-19, 15-17 Heartland) enjoyed in the series opener, but the Jets posted 16 runs on 14 hits and two Blue Tiger errors en route to a 16-9 win in a game that was played over the course of two days due to rain that invated the greater Jefferson City area Friday night.

After spotting Lincoln (10-23, 8-23) four runs in the first inning, Newman saw the Blue Tiger's four, and raised them four more, finishing with eight runs on five hits in the second inning. After a Trent Bierman single to right center, two straight walks loaded the bases for the Jets with just one out. A wild pitch sent Bierman across the plate, leaving runners on first and second with Kori Melo stepping into the box. Melo reached base, and advanced all runners with a fielding error by the Blue Tiger pitcher, loading the bases for Brandon Cox, who singled up the middle, advanced to second on the throw, and scored two, drawing the Jets to within one, 4-3. Ryan Peterson, who reached base on a walk, took advantage of another wild pitch, and scored from third to tie the game at 4-4. The Jets then took advantage of three-straight hits to plate four more runs, taking an 8-4 lead after two innings.

Newman pushed the lead to 9-4 in the second, when Melo scored on another wild pitch after doubling to left to open the inning. The Blue Tigers countered with three runs of their own in the third, and drew to within two, 9-7, but again the Jets had an answer in the fourth, when Newman used four hits to plate three runs to take a 12-7 lead.

The Jets added one more run in the fifth to take a 13-7 lead before the umpires cleared the field due to lightning in the area in the middle of the fifth frame. After waiting out a lengthy delay, it was determined that the game would not be able to be played before darkness fell, and the game was suspended until Saturday.

When the game was resumed Saturday afternoon, the Blue Tigers pulled to within four runs, 13-9, with two runs in the fifth inning, but Newman countered with three runs of their own and held Lincoln scoreless for the remainder of the game en route to the 16-9 win.

Mike Williams led the charge for the Jets, going three-for-five at the plate with one run batted in.

Logan Clewes was credited with his first win of the season after pitching five complete innings and giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits and posting four walks and four strikeouts.

Game 3: Lincoln 5, Newman 1
Newman (15-20, 15-17 Heartland) scored the first run of the game, but were held to just two hits through the remainder of the game, as Lincoln (11-23, 9-23 Heartland) took the series finale in a 5-1 decision.

Kori Melo led of the game by reaching base on a fielding error at second base, but was put out at second on a fielder's choice by Ryan Peterson. A Brandon Cox walk moved Peterson to second. After stealing third base, Peterson scored on a Picos Soto sacrifice fly to right center to give the Jets an early 1-0 advantage.

This time, the Blue Tigers enjoyed the last laugh, plating five runs in the first three innings of play while surrendering just two hits as Lincoln took the 5-1 win.

Eric Hansen was saddled with his second loss of the season, falling to 2-3 after giving up five runs (three earned) on seven hits, but striking out four and walking none in the process.

After going 2-1 in Jefferson City, the Jets moved to within four games of fourth-placed St. Edward's with a 15-20 overall record, and a 15-17 mark in Heartland Conference play. Newman will return to the field Tuesday when NAIA rival Sterling College pays a visit to McCarthy Field for a nine inning game slated for a 7 p.m. first pitch. Tuesday's game is the first of a 14-game home stand for the Jets.