WICHITA, Kan. — Both Newman and Northwestern Oklahoma State had their moments during Tuesday's nonconference doubleheader at Newman Softball Field, but nearly all of them came in different games as the two sides split a pair of games.
The Jets (8-19) saw everything go their way in the opener, smacking 10 hits in an 8-0 run-rule victory. That went more the way of the Rangers (3-21) in the finale, as the guests grabbed their own 8-0 win.
Newman started out with a run in the first inning, as Mikayla Medbery opened with a walk and stole second before getting knocked in by Taylor Mannis for the only lead the Jets would wind up needing. A wild third inning that saw a hit, a walk and two errors ended in another run by Medbery and a 2-0 lead for the hosts.
They doubled the score once again in the fourth, as Delaney Hiegert led off with an infield single and stole second. Jensen Cromer followed with another infield single, allowing Hiegert to score, and Cromer came around to make it 4-0 on a single to left by Kendra Mendoza.
The offensive outburst came to a head in the bottom of the fifth, as Rachael Withers, Mannis and Courtney Sartin started the frame with three straight hits, Sartin's a double to the wall to push both runs home. Hiegert's second infield single of the game scored Sartin, and two walks served to end the game early as Mendoza's free pass made it 8-0.
Katie Ingles tossed all five innings for the Jets, earning her fourth victory of the year by allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out two.
The nightcap started as a pitcher's duel, cruising right along for the first four innings before the Rangers found their bats. The guests used six hits in the fifth to help score six runs and take the lead, and added two more in the top of the sixth while shutting the Jets out.
Hiegert went 3-for-4 with two runs, an RBI and a walk over the two games to lead Newman, while Mendoza, Mannis and Withers all went 2-for-3 in the opener to help boost the offense.
The Jets stay at home this weekend, hosting Texas A&M International in a three-game Heartland Conference series Friday and Saturday.