CANYON, Texas – The Newman softball team came up just short in game one, falling 5-4 to No. 1-ranked West Texas A&M on Saturday (Feb. 21) at Schaeffer Park. In the nightcap, NU lost 9-3 and dropped to 2-9 on the season.
WTAMU 5, NU 4
The Jets scored one run in the seventh inning, but came up one run short in a 5-4 loss in the first game.
The No. 1-ranked Lady Buffs plated two runs in the first inning on a single through the infield for an early 2-0 lead.
NU responded to tie the game in the fourth inning on an inside-the-park home run by
Missy Swanson.
Delaney Hiegert also scored on the home run.
In the fifth inning, WTAMU plated three runs, all by home runs. The Lady Buffs started with a solo home run to go up 3-2 then a two-run shot upped their advantage to 5-2.
The Jets tried to rally, but came up one run short. In the sixth inning,
Jensen Cromer singled to score Swanson for a 5-3 score. NU added one more run in the seventh inning.
Courtney Sartin singled to plate
Madison Bish. NU had runners at first and second with only one out, but the Lady Buffs made a pitching change and got back-to-back outs to end the game.
Swanson and Cromer went 2-for-3 with one RBI.
Mikayla Medbery was 2-for-4.
Katie Ingles got the start in the circle, going 4.2 innings.
Kelsey Jones pitched the final 1.1 inning in relief.
WTAMU 9 NU 3
NU scored three runs in the second inning to gain a 3-1 edge in game two, but the Lady Buffs responded to score eight runs for a 9-3 win.
After an error allowed the Lady Buffs to gain a 1-0 lead,
Breanna Pingry hit a solo homer to tie the score at 1-1. With the bases loaded,
Taylor Mannis doubled to right to score
Annie Gentry and Ingles for a 3-1 Jet lead.
WTAMU got one run in the second on a single for a 3-2 score then poured on three runs in the third to take a 5-3 score. One run scored on a single then another single plated two more runs.
The Lady Buffs totaled two more runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings. A double and sac fly score the two runs in the fourth. The Lady Buffs capped the game with a two-run homer in the fifth for a 9-3 advantage.
Gentry went 2-for-3 in game two, and Pingry was 2-for-4 with one RBI. The Jets totaled eight hits.
The Jets start Heartland Conference play next weekend with a three-game series at Texas A&M International. The series starts with a doubleheader on Friday (Feb. 27) at 12 p.m.
