TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Hitting the road for its first midweek action of the season, the Newman softball team fell in a pair of close games Wednesday afternoon at Northeastern State.

The Jets (2-11) mounted a comeback in the first game before dropping a 4-3 decision late. The comeback began with Ariole O'Neal knocking the team's first home run of the season in the top of the fourth to cut it to a 2-1 lead for the RiverHawks (3-3).

After Jensen Cromer worked three straight innings without allowing a run, Newman got going in the seventh. Rachael Withers started things off with a two-out single, and Kendra Mendoza followed with a single that ended with two runners in scoring position.

Pinch hitting, Lacey Colvin brought both of them in with a single to push the Jets ahead 3-2. Two errors helped NSU get runners on base in the bottom of the frame though, and a two-run single gave it a walk-off win.

The Jets got out to an early lead in the second game of the day, but the RiverHawks opened up the offense late to earn a 4-1 win.

Taylor Mannis reached on an error to open the game, moved up to second on Delaney Hiegert's sacrifice bunt, and came around to score on Erin Jankiewicz's single up the middle.

NSU tied it up in the bottom of the inning, and a three-run home run in the second gave them the final cushion. Kate Smith came on in relief after the homer, and tossed the final 4 1/3 innings allowing just one hit and no walks while striking out five.

O'Neal was hot from the plate throughout the day, going 3-for-5 with a walk over the two games. Mannis, Jankiewicz and Mendoza each added a pair of hits.

The Jets stick around Oklahoma for another day, heading to Southeastern Oklahoma Thursday for another doubleheader.