SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The Newman baseball team was dealt a pair of losses in its season opener, falling to No. 4 St. Mary's in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Wolff Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. The Jets lost their opener in a 4-3 decision, before dropping a 9-0 contest in the late game.

(4) St. Mary's 4, Newman 3
St. Mary's (1-0, 1-0 Heartland) drew first blood, when University of Houston transfer M.P. Cokinos blasted a Kyle Burkhardt pitch for a solo home run in the bottom of the second, giving the Rattlers an early 1-0 lead.

Newman (0-1, 0-1 Heartland) answered in the top of the third when Tanner Vinson singled to left, then stole second during Terrell Brown's at-bat, which ended with a strikeout. David Longmore's single to right scored Vinson from second, and tied the game at 1-1. Tyler Hancock, who walked in his first at-bat in a Newman uniform, gave the Jets their first lead of the season when he scored on an error at second base. After two innings, Newman held a 2-1 lead.

The Rattlers showed why they were the fourth-ranked team in the nation in their next at-bat, plating three runs on three hits, including a two-run home run by Cokinos, and took a 4-2 lead into the fourth inning.

The Jets threatened in the fifth when Brown, who singled up the middle as the second batter of the inning, scored on a Ruben Marrero single. Newman found itself with runners on first and second with two outs in the inning, but a Corey Cowan ground-out ended the Newman threat. The two teams combined for just three hits over the final two innings as the Rattlers handed Newman the 4-3 loss.

Kyle Burkhardt pitched five innings, giving up four earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts and a walk in his first start of the season.

(4) St. Mary's 9, Newman 0
Newman (0-2, 0-2 Heartland) was forced to play from behind early in Saturday's second game. Starter Brandon Droge was forced out of the game before he could even record an out in the opening inning after giving up six earned runs on five walks, two hits, and a hit-batsman. Reliever Gage Daniels was brought in to stop the bleeding, but when the dust finally settled, St. Mary's (2-0, 2-0 Heartland) held a 6-0 lead heading into the second inning.

The Rattlers added another run in the second and two more in the sixth, while St. Mary's pitching controlled the game defensively. Tyler Hancock and Jerrod Flax recorded the only hits of the game for Newman, as the Jets were dealt their first shutout of the season, a 9-0 decision.

After Saturday's sweep, the Jets fall to 0-2 on the season, and 0-2 in Heartland Conference play. The same two teams will meet once more Sunday afternoon at Wolff Stadium. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m.