DENTON, Texas - Spring break took a rough start for the Newman softball team, which dropped a pair of games to the Pioneers of Texas Woman's University Monday afternoon at Pioneer Field in Denton, Texas. TWU won the opener, 6-0, before taking the nightcap in a 16-4 decision.

Game 1: TWU 6, Newman 0
Texas Woman's (15-10) starter Kayla Williams gave Newman (2-17) fits throughout the game, retiring 10 of Newman's first 11 batters. Her only blemish was a walk issued to Sarah Stutts in the top of the third inning. Newman's first hit didn't come until the fifth inning, when Brianna Hallacy sent a screamer up the middle for a double. Hallacy was also responsible for Newman's only other hit, a seventh-inning single up the middle, but her efforts weren't enough to produce runs for the Jets.

Meanwhile, TWU scored a pair of runs in the second and third innings, while adding single runs in the fourth and sixth innings, and tagged Newman starter Stephanie Smolsky for 11 hits en route to the 6-0 win.

Hallacy finished the day with a 2-for-3 outing to lead the team. Smolsky was charged with the loss, giving up six runs (three earned) on 11 hits while walking four and striking out seven in six innings of work.

Game 2: TWU 16, Newman 4 (5 Innings)
Newman (2-18) made the first move, striking for two runs in the second inning. Erin Monday opened the frame with a single to left-center. Tracey Stefanski followed with a bunt single, then advanced all the way to third on a throwing error by the Texas Woman's (16-10) catcher, which allowed Monday to score. An Emily Zimmerman single up the middle allowed Stefanski to score from third, and gave the Jets a 2-0 lead after two innings.

That was about the only good news for the Jets in the contest. The Pioneers figured Newman starter Stephanie Smolsky out in their second trip through the line-up. TWU tagged Smolsky for seven runs on six hits in the third inning, and took a 7-2 lead heading into the fourth.

The Pioneers didn't treat Sarah Fipps, who replaced Smolsky in the fourth, any better. TWU opened the frame with a double followed by three singles to set the Pioneer scoring carousel into motion. When the dust settled, TWU had tagged Fipps for nine runs on nine hits and took a 16-2 lead into the fifth.

Newman scored two more runs in the fifth, but by that time it was far too late as the Pioneers picked up the 16-4 win.

Stefanski finished 2-for-3 with a run and and RBI in Monday's second contest. Smolsky was hit with her second loss of the day after giving up seven earned runs on eight hits while walking six and striking out two.

With the sweep, the Jets fall to 2-18 on the season. They will return to action Thursday, playing host to Southeastern Oklahoma State. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at the Newman Softball Field.