OKLAHOMA CITY — Runs in the first inning were enough to hold for each side as the Newman baseball team split a doubleheader Friday afternoon to open up a Heartland Conference series at Oklahoma Christian.
The Jets (20-10, 7-4 Heartland) held a big lead before the Eagles (16-14, 7-4 Heartland) managed to score their first run of the series on their way to an 8-1 victory in the opener, but OC returned the favor with two runs in the first inning of the nightcap and later tacked on a crucial insurance run to earn a 3-2 win.
Newman got out to a hot start in the opener, putting three runs on the board before OC had a chance to respond. Nick Griffin kicked things off with a single, with Tyler Bugner following with a fielder's choice before stealing second. Brian Canfield singled to load the bases after Garett Thomas was hit by a pitch, and Mitchell Beaudreau's walk in the next at-bat opened the scoring.
Lucas Norton followed with a two-run single to center to make it 3-0 after one inning. Thomas smacked a two-run double to right with one gone in the second to score Bugner and Jacob Hamerle and make it a 5-0 lead for the guests. RBI singles in the third and fifth from Griffin made it a 7-0 advantage before the Eagles got on the board with a run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 7-1. A run-scoring fielder's choice from Hamerle pushed the lead back out to seven in the top of the seventh.
Lucas Schauer worked his seventh complete game of the season in eight starts, moving to 6-1 on the season after tossing all seven innings and allowing just four hits and one run while striking out four. It was the fourth time he's allowed one or fewer runs in a game this season.
A two-run double staked the Eagles to a lead to start the day's finale before Newman starter Dylan Porter settled into a groove. After the double, the senior retired 10 of the next 11 batters he faced, with Beaudreau cutting down the lone runner, who reached on a walk, trying to steal second.
The Jets took advantage, as Norton picked up a two-out single in the fourth and scored on Hamerle's single two batters later to halve the deficit. An error extended the inning and allowed OC to tack on a run in the bottom of the fifth, which would prove necessary, as Newman got another run in the seventh on an RBI single from Bugner. Both teams were stifled at the plate over the final two innings though, as the hosts hung on for the win.
Griffin was one of four Jets with multiple hits in the first game, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Norton put up a 3-for-4 game at the plate, adding two RBIs and scoring three times. Hamerle led the way in Game 2, going 3-for-3.
Porter was stellar once again, especially over his final seven innings, where he allowed just three hits, one unearned run and a walk while striking out eight. It was his fifth time in eight starts this season allowing two or fewer earned runs, and he set a new season-high with nine punchouts.
The Jets and Eagles wrap up their series with a single game at noon Saturday.
