WICHITA - The Newman softball team won its four-game series over Texas-Permian Basin with a split in Saturday's doubleheader. The Falcons rallied for an 8-5 win over the Jets in the opener, before Newman blasted UTPB in the finale, 11-2.

Game 1: Texas-Permian Basin 8, Newman 5
Texas-Permian Basin (14-22, 2-7 Heartland) scored the first run of the contest in the top of the first inning, but Newman (4-21, 2-8 Heartland) answered in its half of the first when Steph Harshberger, who was hit by a pitch to reach base, scored on a Sarah Fipps double to right-center. After the opening inning, the game was tied at 1-1.

The Falcons scored another run in the second, but the Jets were up to the task. Emily Zimmerman, who reached on a fielder's choice bunt, scored on a Harshberger double to left-center, then advanced to third on an errant throw from the outfield. Harshberger went on to score on a Fipps double down the right field line. After three innings, the Jets held a 3-2 advantage.

After a pair of scoreless innings, UTPB made its final move in the sixth, plating six runs on six hits to take an 8-3 lead into Newman's final six outs.

The Jets had an answer in the seventh, but it wasn't quite enough to complete a comeback. Newman plated two runs on three hits in the inning, but came up three runs short in the 8-5 loss.

Steph Harshberger finished 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI in the contest. Harshberger was one of four Jets to post two hits in the contest. Sarah Fipps was tagged with the loss, giving up eight runs (six earned) on 13 hits in 5.2 innings of work.

Game 2: Newman 11, Texas-Permian Basin 2 (5 Innings)
Newman (5-21) opened Saturday's non-conference match-up with Texas-Permian Basin (14-23) by plating an early run. With two outs in the opening inning, Sarah Fipps doubled to right-center, then moved to third on an Erin Monday single to right. Fipps went on to score on Tracey Stefanski's single to third base to give the Jets an early 1-0 lead.

UTPB answered with a run in the second, but the Jets were far from finished. Sarah Stutts opened the inning with a single down the left field line, then stole second before scoring on an Emily Zimmerman double to left-center. Zimmerman later scored on a Steph Harshberger single. Harshberger went on to score on a Tracey Stefanski single to right. After two innings, Newman held a 4-1 advantage.

The Jets erased any doubt in the third inning. Each of Newman's first five batters reached base, and set the scoring carousel into motion Of the first five batters that reached base three of them scored, but the rout didn't end there. Newman scored seven runs on four hits and one Falcon error, and took an 11-1 lead after three frames.

The Falcons added a single run in the fifth, but it wasn't enough to take the run-rule out of play, as Newman picked up the 11-2 win in five innings.

Erin Monday finished 3-for-3 at the plate with a run scored and three RBI to lead the Jets. Stephanie Smolsky picked up the win, giving up just one earned runs on seven hits in four innings of work as she improved to 4-13 on the season.

With the win, Newman improves to 5-21 on the season. They will return to action Monday, hosting Pittsburg State in a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch at NU Softball Field is slated for 4:30 p.m.