Box Score WICHITA – The Jets took game one of Friday's doubleheader against Rogers State 4-3, with John Branum going the distance in the shortened seven-inning game.  The Hillcats' bullpen shut down Newman's offense in game two though, limiting the Jets to just five hits as Rogers State took game two 3-2.
 
Game 1: Newman 4, Rogers State 3
The Jets took an early lead and never looked back, going up 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning and maintaining that lead all the way through the first game.  After John Branum stranded a runner at third in the top of the first, Tyler Bugner dropped a single into left field to start things in the bottom of the inning.  Bugner swiped second base and advanced to third on a passed ball, then scored when Mitchell Beaudreau lined a single over the second baseman to put Newman ahead 1-0.  Branum worked two more innings of scoreless ball before NU added to the lead in the bottom of the third.  Bugner was the sparkplug once again, bouncing a single through the left side and stealing second base again.  Mitchell Beaudreau tripled to the right center gap four pitches later, and just like that the Jets had a 2-0 lead with Beaudreau standing at third with none away.  Alex Lator lined a double into the left center gap that scored Beaudreau, and the Jets held a 3-0 lead through the first three innings. 
 
The Hillcats chipped away at the lead in the top of the fourth, using two singles to put runners at the corners with nobody out.  Branum got the next batter to ground into a double play, but the runner from third scored and the Jet lead was 3-1.  Rogers State strung three more hits together in the top of the fifth to plate another run and make it 3-2, but Branum struck out the four-hitter with men at second and third to end the inning.  Newman would get one of those runs back in the bottom of the fifth.  Mitchell Beaudreau was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, then moved up to second on an errant pickoff throw from the pitcher and over to third on a sacrifice bunt.  Andrew Standish bounced a single up the middle to score Beaudreau, and the Jets held a 4-2 lead going into the final two frames.  Branum sent the Hillcats down in order in the top of the sixth, but ran into some trouble in the top of the seventh.  After a leadoff single, the Hillcats got a run on a groundout and defensive miscue by the second baseman, but Branum got the next batter to fly out to center for the final out of the game. 
 
Mitchell Beaudreau went 2-for-2 with two walks and contributed to all of the Newman runs in game one, knocking in two and scoring the other two.  John Branum allowed three runs (two earned) and struck out eight in picking up his third win of the season. 
 
Game 2: Rogers State 3, Newman 2
The Newman bats, which had been hot recently, cooled significantly in game two as the Jets were limited to just five hits, including just one over the game's final five innings.  This time it was the Hillcats who took the early lead, using two singles to put guys at the corners with one out, and then using a textbook double steal to score the runner from third and go up 1-0.  The Jets went down quietly in their first two turns at bat before Rogers State added another run in the top of the third.  After a two-out bunt single and a balk gave the Hillcats a man in scoring position, Caleb Kohlmeyer laced a single back up the box to score the run and give them the 2-0 lead. 
 
Newman finally responded in the bottom of the fourth, loading up the bases with nobody out thanks to two singles and an error.  Garrett Thomas then flared a single into left field to score two runs, and the Jets had locked the game up 2-2 and still had men at first and second with nobody out.  Newman could not cash in on the rally opportunity though, with the next two batters striking out and grounding into a double play to end the threat.  Still, the game went into the fifth inning tied 2-2. 
 
The Hillcats would retake the lead in the top of the fifth, loading up the bases themselves thanks to two singles and a hit by pitch. Blake Gipson then flied out to center field to allow the runner from third to tag up and score, and Rogers State took a 3-2 lead.  Travis Teague came in for the Hillcats and shut down the Jets over the next five innings, as the Jets mustered just one hit and three baserunners over the game's final five frames as they fell 3-2 in the second game of the double-dip.
 
With the split, the Jets are 13-13 on the season, and 6-8 in conference play.  They will look to capture the series victory tomorrow afternoon, when Zak Mickens takes the mound for the rubber game of this Heartland Conference matchup.  First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. back at McCarthy Field.