WICHITA – The Newman softball team ended its three-game series with a 6-2 loss to Lubbock Christian on Sunday (March 8) at the Newman Softball Field. The Jets dropped to 2-17 and 0-6 in the Heartland Conference.
 
The pitching duo of Jensen Cromer and Katie Ingles shut down the powerful Lady Chaps lineup early. LCU plated the first run of the game in the third on a single to left field off Ingles.
 
In the fourth inning, LCU scored one run with a solo homer to center field for a 2-0 edge. The lead grew to 3-0 with a single to left field in the fifth inning.
 
Sarah Balderas doubled to left center in the fifth inning to put NU on the board as the RBI double scored Madison Bish for a 3-1 score.
 
The Lady Chaps scored three runs in the sixth inning to give them a 6-1 advantage. A single down the right field line made it 4-1, and an error on an infield single allowed to base runners to score for a 6-1 LCU lead.
 
Needing five runs in the seventh inning, the Jets scored one. Pinch hitter Kassidy Furr doubled to right center to score Balderas, who reached on a walk. With runners at first and second, Breanna Pingry struck out swinging to end the game at 6-2.
 
Furr was 1-for-1 with the RBI, and Balderas went 1-for-2 with one RBI, one run scored and one walk. Ingles, Kaitlyn Buck, Kelsey Jones and Bish all totaled hits.
 
Cromer started in the circle. Ingles and Jones all saw action pitching. Ingles got the loss as she went 3 innings and allowed one run on four hits and had two strikeouts. Cromer went 2.2 innings and Jones pitched 1.1 innings.
 
LCU's Liz Torres went 3-for-3 with two RBI. Ashton Bell was 3-for-4. The Lady Chaps totaled 12 hits.
 
The Jets continue a five-game homestand with Southern Nazarene on Tuesday (March 10) in a doubleheader at 3 p.m. at the Newman Softball Field. Live stats will be available.