ODESSA, Texas- The Newman softball team will look to rebound from a mid-week sweep by Southwestern Oklahoma State on Tuesday, opening up Heartland Conference play at Texas-Permian Basin for a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. on the campus of UTPB. Saturday's conclusion of the series is slated for 12 p.m.

The Jets open up Heartland Conference action looking to turn the corner. Newman is 2-13 in non-conference play, but six of those losses came by two runs or less. The Jets have 19 extra base hits on the season. Stephanie Smolsky's bat came alive in the sweep against SWOSU, batting two-for-two in Game 2 of the doubleheader. Sarah Fipps has been the ace of the Newman pitching trio, throwing five complete games so far this season.

Texas-Permian Basin (7-17) has had its own share of troubles in the 2012 softball season, but  comes into Friday's opener winners of four out of its last five games. Anna Hollingsworth has been the catalyst of the Falcons' offense, batting .423 with an on-base percentage of .468. Courtney Cernoch and Lucero Porras have eclipsed the .300 mark thus far in the season, batting .314 and .313, respectively. Desiree Valero has spent the most time in the circle, starting 12 games, striking out 68 batters in 104.1 innings of work.

Statistical Leaders:

Batting- Batting Average:

1. Stephanie Smolsky (1.000, 2-2)

2. Erin Monday (.417, 5-12)

3. Briana Hallacy (.275, 11-40)

Batting- Hits:

1. Sarah Fipps (12)

2. Hallacy, Traffas, Carney (11)

3. Sarah Balderas (9)

Batting- Doubles:

1. Sarah Balderas (4)

2. Two tied at 2

3. Two tied at 1

Batting- Triples:

1. Briana Hallacy (1)

Batting- Home Runs:

1. Briana Hallacy (2)

1. Sarah Fipps (2)

1. Kelsey Jones (2)

Batting- Runs Batted In:

1. Briana Hallacy (9)

2. Fipps and Jones (7)

3. Liz Carney (5)

Batting- Slugging Percentage:

1. Briana Hallacy (.571)

2. Kelsey Jones (.533)

3. Erin Monday (.500)

Batting- On-Base Percentage:

1. Stephanie Smolsky (1.000)

2. Erin Monday (.533)

3. Briana Hallacy (.408)

Pitching- ERA:

1. Sarah Fipps (5.43, 59.1 IP)

2. Stephanie Smolsky (6.26, 15.2 IP)

3. Kelsey Jones (9.64, 20.1 IP)

Pitching- Strikeouts:

1. Sarah Fipps (33)

2. Stephanie Smolsky (7)

3. Kelsey Jones (4)

Pitching- Innings Pitched:

1. Sarah Fipps (59.1)

2. Kelsey Jones (20.1)

3. Stephanie Smolsky (15.2)

Pitching- Complete Games:

1. Sarah Fipps (5)

2. Kelsey Jones (2)

3. Stephanie Smolsky (1)