CANYON, Texas — Taylor Mannis reached base four times and Kate Smith turned in another solid performance in the circle, but the Newman softball team fell in a pair of close games to Western Oregon to begin the West Texas A&M Lady Buff Classic Friday.

Mannis recorded the only hit of the game for the Jets (2-6) in the first game, roping a double to left to start the fourth inning to spoil a no-hit attempt by the Wolves (5-6), who grabbed a 2-0 win. Smith allowed just six hits and one walk while going the distance, with just one of the two runs against her being earned.

After being shut out in the opener, Mannis made sure the same wouldn't happen for a second straight game, as she lifted a home run to left to lead things off for the Jets and give them their first lead of the day.

The sophomore kickstarted Newman's biggest inning of the day in the third, starting things off with a walk and stealing second. She came around to score on a bunt single by Courtney Sartin to push the Jets ahead once again at 2-1, and Kendra Mendoza plated Mikayla Medbery with a sacrifice fly to give them a two-run cushion. The Wolves would creep back into it late though, scoring single runs in each of the last three innings, including the game-winning sac fly in the bottom of the seventh that sealed the 4-3 victory.

Katie Ingles worked around 10 hits by WOU, walking none while striking out three, and just two of the runs scored against her were earned.

The Jets jump right back at it Saturday morning with a doubleheader against Lincoln (Mo.) beginning at 11 a.m.