WICHITA, Kan. — After getting back on the winning track this week, the Newman softball team faces one of its stiffest tests of the season this weekend, hosting No. 10 St. Mary's in a three-game Heartland Conference series Friday and Saturday.

SCOUTING NEWMAN

The Jets (14-28, 4-11 Heartland) dealt with a tough road in a sweep at the hands of Texas-Permian Basin last weekend, but rebounded with two exciting, walk-off victories over Fort Hays State Tuesday to sweep a nonconference doubleheader.

LEADERS

                Taylor Mannis, Sophomore-.373 avg., 24 runs, 4 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 17-of-21 SB

Rachael Withers, Junior-.326 avg., 15 runs, 2 2B, 2 RBI, .402 OBP, 13-of-17 SB

                Courtney Sartin, Senior-.277 avg., 19 runs, 5 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 21 RBI, .462 slg.

                Kate Smith, Junior-6-16, 3.29 ERA, 27 app., 140.1 IP, 16 CG, 3 shutouts, 36 BB, 52 SO

                Katie Ingles, Senior-6-7, 3.43 ERA, 18 app., 87.2 IP, 8 CG, 1 shutout, 33 BB, 46 SO

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

The Rattlers (32-9, 16-2 Heartland) have hit what constitutes a rough stretch for them, going 5-4 over their past nine games against tough competition after rattling off 19 wins in a row. They still haven't lost a Heartland Conference series, and split a doubleheader against Central Oklahoma Wednesday.

                LEADERS

                Hannah Michel, Sophomore-.414 avg., 47 runs, 12 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 32 RBI, .621 slg., 12 SB

                Sydney Wellmann, Senior-.393 avg., 39 runs, 4 2B, 14 HR, 54 RBI, .786 slg., .544 OBP

                Raynelle Nash, Freshman-.362 avg., 29 runs, 10 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 35 RBI

                Hope Russell, Sophomore-6-4, 2.72 ERA, 15 app., 4 CG, 64.1 IP, 29 BB, 22 SO

                Ashley Mills, Junior-9-0, 2.90 ERA, 21 app., 72.1 IP, 28 BB, 58 SO

NOTES

-The Rattlers are in a familiar place at the top of the Heartland Conference standings, as they've won the league in 14 of the past 15 seasons, including each of the past six.

-StMU is in the top 25 nationally in nearly every offensive category, including fifth with a .435 team on-base percentage and 12th in scoring, putting up 7.1 runs per game.

-Sartin popped a pair of home runs Tuesday against Fort Hays, including the walk-off winner in the day's second game. That extended her impressive stretch over the past five games, in which the senior has gone 7-for-16 at the plate, knocking in six runs and hitting three long balls.

COVERAGE

Live statistics for all three games, with a doubleheader Friday at 4 p.m. and a single game Saturday at 11 a.m., will be available at www.newmanjets.com.