ODESSA, Texas — It was able to mount a couple comebacks, but the Newman softball team couldn't find a second answer each time, falling in a doubleheader to Texas-Permian Basin in a rain-delayed start to the teams' Heartland Conference series Saturday evening.

The Jets (12-27, 4-10 Heartland) saw the Falcons (8-30, 4-13 Heartland) respond in kind each time they put up a big score. UTPB erased a two-run deficit to win 7-3 in the first game of the day, and doubled up an early effort by Newman to win 3-2 in the finale.

A quiet first five innings of the opener saw UTPB holding a slim 1-0 lead on an unearned run. The work of starter Kate Smith, who allowed just three hits over the first five innings, allowed the guests to stay in the game, in time for a big top of the sixth.

Mikayla Medbery was hit by a pitch to start things off, and Rachael Withers worked a walk to put two on with none out. That was all Courtney Sartin needed, as the senior lifted her third home run of the season over the wall in left center to post the Jets to a 3-1 lead. Unfortunately, the Falcons also found their bats in the sixth, and answered in the bottom half to take back the lead and hold on for the win.

Withers and Sartin each put up two hits in the game, with Withers adding a walk to reach base all three times at the plate.

It didn't take so long for the offenses to get on the board in the nightcap, as Medbery walked and Sartin singled through the left side with two outs before Alyssa Taylor's single to left put the Jets on the board in the first inning.

The Falcons countered with two runs in the bottom of the first, and the teams held there until the top of the fourth. Adrienne Esposito was hit by a pitch and Delaney Hiegert followed with an infield single to put two on with no outs. Kendra Mendoza dropped a single into left to plate Esposito to tie things up at 2-2, but UTPB managed to push the winning run across in the sixth and hold on in the seventh.

Sartin and Mendoza each went 2-for-3 for the game, as Sartin finished the day with four hits. Katie Ingles went the distance in the circle, and was especially effective after the first inning, allowing just five hits and one run over her last five frames.

The Jets and Falcons close out the Heartland Conference series with a game at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.