WICHITA, Kan. — A potent top of the lineup and two solid efforts in the circle earned the Newman softball team its first doubleheader sweep of a Heartland Conference opponent this season, grabbing a pair of wins over Oklahoma Panhandle State Friday evening.
The Jets (17-32, 6-14 Heartland) charged out to an early lead in both games and never trailed on the day. A four-run lead held up for a 4-2 win in the opener, while a four-run inning proved to be the difference as they topped the Aggies (18-27, 6-14 Heartland) 5-3 in the nightcap.
Newman had a slow start on offense in the first game, but got going quickly with one out in the third. Taylor Mannis singled up the middle and swiped second base before Mikayla Medbery walked to put two runners on. Missy Swanson's single to center pushed the first run of the game in, and Kendra Mendoza doubled down the left field line to make it a 2-0 lead.
Starting pitcher Jensen Cromer cruised after being handed the lead. She allowed just one hit and one walk and faced one over the minimum over the second through the fifth inning. After she retired her seventh straight batter to end the fifth, her offense got going once again, as Mannis and Medbery got back-to-back hits to start things off. Swanson chased both home with a double to the wall in left center to make it 4-0.
OPSU responded with two runs on two hits in the top of the sixth to halve the deficit, but Cromer got out of that inning and set the Aggies down in order in the top of the seventh to earn their win. She finished the game allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out six in her seven innings of work.
Mannis, Medbery and Swanson did most of the damage for the offense at the top of the order, combining to go 7-for-9 with four runs scored, with Swanson driving home three of the team's four runs in the game.
Newman kept things going early in the second game of the day, as Swanson walked with two outs in the first and was followed up by singles from Courtney Sartin and Mendoza to score and take the lead. OPSU got a run back in the third, but starting pitcher Kate Smith kept the guests at bay for much of the game.
The Jets broke the tie in a big way in the fifth, getting five hits to score four runs and take a 5-1 lead. Mannis led things off with a one-out double, and singles from Medbery and Swanson loaded the bases. Sartin followed by dropping a double in right center that scored two runs, and a Mendoza groundout and a single from Rachael Withers each scored one more to boost the lead.
Smith, who got out of jams while scattering seven hits and striking out five against no walks to earn the win, ran into her only bit of trouble in the game in the sixth, as the Aggies scored twice to inch back into the game, but Katie Ingles came in for the final four outs to earn the save.
Mannis, Medbery and Swanson each added a hit in the second game, while Sartin went 2-for-2 with a pair of RBIs, a walk and a run scored.
The Jets and the Aggies are back early Saturday, as the series finale has been moved up to an 11 a.m. start in hopes of avoiding rain later in the day. The game will be preceded by this year's Senior Day ceremony honoring the team's three seniors.
