Box Score WICHITA – John Branum tossed a four-hit shutout against Texas Permian-Basin in the first game of the doubleheader en route to a 4-0 victory, but the Falcons came back and downed the Jets 12-2 in the second game of the double-dip. 
 
Game 1: Newman 4, UTPB 0
The Jets went up early in the game, with Ricky Sanchez smashing a triple to left center field in the bottom of the first, then scoring on a wild pitch.  The 1-0 lead was all that was necessary for Branum, who never really struggled on his way to completing his second shutout of the season. 
 
Branum cruised through the first five innings, only allowing three baserunners despite working with just a one run lead.  Newman would give him some more breathing room in the bottom of the fifth, with Andrew Standish and Tyler Evans knocking singles with one down, then moving up on a wild pitch to put runners at second and third.  Ben Wagner lofted a fly ball into right field, allowing Standish to tag up and score to put Newman up 2-0 through five. 
 
The Jets were back at it in the bottom of the sixth, as Jarrod Flax drew a one-out walk and Kyle Johnston was hit by a pitch to get things rolling.  Flax and Johnston both took off on the ensuing pitch as they attempted a double steal, but the catcher's throw to third sailed into left field and enabled both runners to score and put the Jets up 4-0 going into the final inning of the shortened seven-inning game. 
 
The leadoff man for the Falcons singled to start the seventh, but Branum got the next batter to fly out and then induced a game-ending 5-4-3 double play as third baseman Tyler Evans dove to his right and then whipped the ball around the horn to seal the victory.  Branum was lights out for the Jets, striking out three and not allowing a runner past first base in picking up his second win of the season.
 
Game 2: UTPB 12, Newman 2
The second game was largely a different story for the Falcons, who went up early and never trailed on their way to a 12-2 run rule victory over the Jets.  UTPB got to Newman starter Jacob Furr early, starting the game off with a single and a walk to get things going.  After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners up 90 feet, Trey Cochran singled to center field to score a run and put Permian-Basin up 1-0.  Furr plunked the next batter to load up the bases, but struck out the next two Falcons to leave them loaded and minimize the damage. 
 
The Falcons added another run in the top of the third, following up a two-out walk with a double into the left center gap by Ryan Arrick to put them up 2-0.  Newman was quick to respond though, with Jordan Ollenberger leading off the bottom of the inning by launching a double over the center fielder and then swiping third base with one away.  Tyler Bugner then bounced an infield single up the middle to score Ollenberger and cut the deficit in half. Still, the Jets trailed 2-1 through the first three frames. 
 
That 2-1 deficit was as close as the Jets would get though, as the Falcons exploded for six runs on seven hits in the top of the fifth, going through three different Newman relievers in the process.  Joe Cannady left the bases loaded when he got Ryan Arrick to fly out to center, but the Jets trailed 8-1 going into the bottom of the fifth.  The Falcons took advantage of a defensive miscue in the top of the sixth that allowed them to load up the bases with two men out.  Trey Cochran then laced a bases-clearing double into left center field, knocking Cannady out of the game and giving UTPB a 12-1 lead going into the bottom half of the sixth. 
 
The Jets answered with one in the bottom of the sixth, as Andrew Standish singled with two men out and then scored all the way from first when Garrett Thomas one-hopped the wall in center field for an RBI double.  Cody Frederickson sent the Falcons down in order in the top of the seventh, but the Jets still needed at least one to avoid the run rule.  Despite getting the first two men on, the Newman could not cash in on the opportunity and fell to the Falcons 12-2. 
 
Jacob Furr took the loss in game 2, surrendering two runs on five hits while walking three and striking out seven.  Furr is now 2-2 on the season.
 
With the split, the Jets are an even 8-8, including 4-4 in conference.  They will look to capture the series victory tomorrow with the rubber game of this conference matchup.  First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. back at McCarthy Field.