WICHITA, Kan. — Kickstarting its final homestand of the season, the Newman softball team welcomes Oklahoma Panhandle State to the Newman Softball Field for a three-game Heartland Conference series Friday and Saturday.

Friday's doubleheader begins at 4 p.m., while Saturday's single game begins at noon, with Senior Day festivities immediately before.

SCOUTING NEWMAN

The Jets (15-32, 4-14 Heartland) continue to be playing solid despite a 1-4 mark in their past five games. They were competitive in all three games in against No. 11 St. Mary's last weekend, and got a gem of a game from Kate Smith to split a doubleheader at a Pittsburg State squad that is 34-15 on the season.

LEADERS

                Taylor Mannis, Sophomore-.342 avg., 25 runs, 4 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 17-of-21 SB

Courtney Sartin, Senior-.276 avg., 19 runs, 5 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 22 RBI, .441 slg, 5 SB

                Mikayla Medbery, Junior-.326 avg., 23 runs, 7 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 13 RBI, .417 slg.

                Kate Smith, Junior-7-17, 3.19 ERA, 30 app., 156.0 IP, 18 CG, 4 shutouts, 37 BB, 56 SO

                Katie Ingles, Senior-6-9, 3.76 ERA, 20 app., 98.2 IP, 8 CG, 1 shutout, 34 BB, 53 SO

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

The Aggies (18-25, 6-12 Heartland) have been competitive in conference play as of late, taking two-of-three against Texas-Permian Basin and finding a way to win one game against some of the top teams in the league in Lubbock Christian, Rogers State and St. Edward's. They split a doubleheader against Eastern New Mexico Wednesday to get ready for the weekend.

LEADERS

                Darcie Wilson-.382 avg., 25 runs, 9 2B, 4 HR, 26 RBI, .565 slg.

                Brooklyne Bolton-.357 avg., 15 runs, 5 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 24 RBI

                Madison Heathington-.348 avg., 26 runs, 10 2B, 1 3B, 12 HR, 45 RBI, .704 slg.

                Criselda Luna-7-4, 6.37 ERA, 5 CG, 65.0 IP, 27 BB, 30 SO

                Samantha Arledge-7-8, 6.60 ERA, 20 app., 11 CG, 103.2 IP, 59 BB, 92 SO

NOTES

-Smith had her best stuff in the circle Wednesday against the Gorillas, scattering five hits and allowing only one walk in picking up her fourth shutout victory of the year. It was her first since holding Texas A&M International scoreless March 19, which was one of two shutouts she's tossed against Heartland Conference foes this season.

-The Aggies can swing the bats with the best of them, sporting a team batting average of .295 and scoring better than five runs per game. Their top five batters all hit better than .330, and four of them have driven in at least 24 runs on the season.

COVERAGE

Live statistics for all three games of the series will be available at www.newmanjets.com.