WICHITA – Facing the nationally-ranked St. Mary's Rattlers in the first of a three-game series, the Newman baseball team lost both games in Friday's doubleheader at McCarthy Field. The No. 14 Rattlers' four runs in the fourth and fifth innings gave them the edge for a 9-1 victory in the first game, while the Jets stayed close in the second game losing 3-1.

Game 1: St. Mary's 9, Newman 1
Newman (11-17, 5-12) gave St. Mary's (24-6, 15-2) a strong fight until the fourth inning in the first game of Friday's doubleheader. In the bottom of the first Corey Cowan walked and advanced to second on a David Longmore sacrifice bunt. A single through the right side by Mike Williams brought Cowan in for Newman's only run of the game.

The Rattlers scored a run in the first then scored four runs with two outs in the fourth and four more in the fifth on their way to the 9-1 win.

Kyle Burkhardt pitched four innings with seven runs off nine hits.

Game 2: St. Mary's 3, Newman 1
It was not until the third inning of the second game that either team scored. St. Mary's' Josh McElroy broke that ice in the top of the third off a Brandon Droge wild pitch to give the Rattlers an early 1-0 advantage.

Newman countered with a run of their own in the third. Jordan Ollenberger reached first on a Rattler error and advanced on a Jake Gaul bunt. John Bonebrake reached on a walk giving Newman a runner on second and first. With two outs, Williams singled up the middle bringing Ollenberger home, and tying the game at 1-1 heading into the fourth. 

St. Mary's went on to score two runs in the fifth. With both teams going scoreless in the last four innings, the game ended with a 3-1 loss for the Jets.

Brandon Droge pitched seven innings, allowing three runs off eight hits.

With the two losses, Newman moves to an 11-17 overall record and 5-12 in Heartland play. The Jets will finish the home series against St. Mary's Saturday at noon.