WICHITA – For the second time in history, the Newman softball team earned a spot in the Heartland Conference Tournament. The Jets defeated Oklahoma Christian, 1-0, in game one of a doubleheader on Saturday (April 25) at the Newman Softball Field to clinch a spot in the field. OC won game two, 5-1. The Jets moved to 7-15 in the Heartland Conference, and matched their most wins in NCAA Division II history at 16-37.
 
Newman 1, Oklahoma Christian 0
 
In game one, Madison Bish drove in the game-winning run in the fifth inning on a double down the left field line to score Kassidy Furr. The run put the Jets up 1-0.
 
It's the first time the Jets have advanced to the conference tournament since 2011 when the Jets finished 6-9 in the Heartland Conference.
 
Jensen Cromer kept the Eagles scoreless, pitching the 7 innings with three strikeouts. OC totaled eight hits, but couldn't score a run on the NU starter. She moved to 7-13 on the season with the victory.
 
NU totaled only two hits in the game. Bish was 1-for-2 with the RBI, and Courtney Sartin went 1-for-2.
 
OC's Taylor Mosher had a strong outing in the circle, keeping the Jets hitless through 4.2 innings. The Bish two-out RBI single ended her no-hitter attempt. Sartin singled in the sixth for the other hit allowed by OC.  
 
Oklahoma Christian 5, Newman 1
 
The Eagles totaled five runs in the final three innings to pull out to the 5-1 victory in game two. OC went up, 1-0, on a double down the line in the fifth, and another double down the line increased the edge to 2-0 in the first. OC plated one run in the sixth on a single through the infield for the 3-0 score.
 
Sartin went deep, hitting the only home run of the doubleheader to left field. Sartin hit a hard liner into a strong wind that got over the outfield fence for the 3-1 score.
 
In the seventh, OC added two more runs. An error allowed the first run to score, and another double down the line upped the lead to 5-1.
 
Breanna Pingry went 2-for-3, and Taylor Mannis was 2-for-4. Sarah Morales has a pinch-hit single in the seventh inning.
 
Katie Ingles started in the circle, going 5.1 innings and allowing three runs on six hits with three strikeouts. Cromer returned to pitch the final 1.2 innings and allowed one hit and totaled one strikeout.
 
Senior Day is tomorrow (April 26) at 1 p.m. at the Newman Softball Field. It is the regular season finale for the Jets.