WICHITA - The Newman softball team saw its losing streak extend to nine games Tuesday night, dropping back-to-back run-rule games to in-state MIAA rival Fort Hays State in a doubleheader at NU Softball Field. FHSU picked up a 9-1 win in the opener, before taking a 10-0 victory in the nightcap.
Game 1: FHSU 9, Newman 1 (6 Innings)
The Fort Hays State (16-11) pitching staff proved to be unhittable in the series opener, as two Tiger pitchers combined for a six-inning no-hitter. Newman (1-20) was able to make its way onto the scoreboard in the third inning when
Kayla Bontrager reached base on a walk. Another walk by
Tracey Stefanski gave the Jets runners at first and second with two outs, and sent
Katie Traffas to the plate. Traffas advanced Bontrager and Stefanski when she reached on an error that allowed Bontrager to score, but it was too little, too late for the Jets. FHSU led 5-1 at that point, and added three runs in the fourth, and one in the sixth to pick up the 9-1 win.
Allison Thummel was hit with the loss for the Jets, giving up nine runs (seven earned) on 12 hits while walking two and striking out four in six innings of work. Maddie Holub was credited with the win for the Tigers after allowing one unearned run while allowing no hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Adrian Mohr picked up her second save of the season.
Game 2: FHSU 10, Newman 0 (5 Innings)
A sloppy first innings set the tone for the game in Tuesday's night-cap. Fort Hays State (17-11) tagged Newman (1-21) pitcher
Erin Schmidt for five runs on six hits, including two home runs, and took a 5-0 lead before the Jets could even take their turn at the plate. Newman eliminated the chance of a second-straight no-hitter when
Jennifer Stasiewicz sent a blooper into right field, but that was Newman's only hit of the night. FHSU added a run in the third, and two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings en route to the 10-0 five inning win.
Erin Schmidt was dealt her fifth loss of the season, giving up 10 runs (eight earned) on 14 hits with one strikeout in five innings of work, and fell to 0-5 on the season.
The sweep drops the Jets to 1-21 on the season. They will return to action Thursday, traveling to Weatherford, Okla., for a doubleheader against the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
-Newman University-
