WICHITA – For the first time since 2011, the Newman softball team swept a three-game Heartland Conference series. NU defeated Texas-Permian Basin, 10-7, today (March 28) in the final game of the three-game weekend series. With the win, the Jets moved to 5-10 in the Heartland Conference and won their fourth straight game.
 
It's the Jets first conference sweep since April 16-17, 2011 when NU defeated Oklahoma Panhandle State in three games in Goodwell, Okla. The Jets won those three games by score of 10-8, 14-1 and 7-3.
 
The Falcons gained an early 3-0 lead by plating three runs in the top half of the first inning. Two singles up the middle and a stolen base scored the three runs.
 
NU responded by putting up three runs in the third inning to tie the score at 3-3. Mikayla Medbery hit a two-RBI triple to right center to pull the Jets to within one at 3-2. Taylor Mannis and Jensen Cromer scored on the hit. Courtney Sartin brought in Medbery with a sac fly.
 
UTPB added three more runs in the fourth inning to gain a 6-3 edge. A double the line scored the first run and then a two-run home run upped the Falcon lead to 6-3.
 
The Jets once again responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and then three more runs in the fifth inning to pull out to a 10-6 advantage. In the fourth, Mannis singled to score one with the bases loaded and Medbery hit a single to score two more runs for the 6-6 tie. Katie Ingles gave NU the lead in the fourth with a sac fly. Mannis scored for the 7-6 NU edge.
 
Madison Bish hit a double down the line to bring in two more NU runs for a 9-6 score in the fifth inning. Kassidy Furr and Ellise McGowan scored on the two-RBI double. Mannis singled to bring home the final NU run. The single up the middle scored Bish for the 10-6 score.
 
The Falcons got one run in the seventh inning on a solo home run.
 
The Jets totaled 15 hits. Medbery went 3-for-4 with four RBI and one run scored. Mannis was 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Kelsey Jones, Furr, Bish and Cromer all finished with two hits.
 
Ingles got the win in the circle. She pitched the final 4 innings and gave up only four hits. The junior totaled four strikeouts.
 
NU returns to action on Tuesday (March 31) at Fort Hays State in Hays, Kan. The non-conference doubleheader starts at 4 p.m.