WICHITA- The Newman baseball team continued its hot start on Friday, defeating Texas-Permian Basin 3-2 in thrilling fashion at McCarthy Field.

Newman (9-5, 8-5 HC) ignited the charge in the bottom of the first inning, when Tanner Vinson led the frame off with a single. Vinson was forced out at second, following a Terrell Brown ground-ball. Brown put himself in scoring position, stealing second before David Longmore walked. A Corey Cowan single drove in Brown to put Newman up 1-0.

Texas-Permian Basin (1-12, 1-9 HC) battled back in the top of the third, putting a run across the plate on a Jerrod Flax error to tie the game at 1-1. Brandon Droge pitched seven strong innings, giving up one run (one earned) on three hits, while striking out three Falcons. Griffin Campbell relieved Droge in the top of the eighth, relinquishing the Jet lead on two hits, before Anthony Gonzales retired the final two batters of the inning.

The Jets rallied in the bottom of the frame when Longmore singled up the middle. Tyler Hancock reached base by way of a walk following a Corey Cowan fly out to center field, to set the table for Ruben Marrero. Marrero singled up the gut to score Longmore easily, but a bobble by the center fielder plated Hancock to put Newman up 3-2.

Gage Daniels shut the door on UTPB, retiring the first three Falcons he faced en route to the 3-2 victory. Tanner Vinson and Terrell Brown led the offensive attack, batting two-for-four each for the one-and-two holes of the Newman lineup.

With the win, the Jets move to 9-5 overall, and an 8-5 mark in Heartland Conference play. The same two teams will wrap up the series on Saturday, with Game 1 of the scheduled doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. at McCarthy Field.