WICHITA, Kan. – The Newman baseball team completed its opening Heartland Conference series with a single game Friday afternoon at McCarthy Field against St. Edward's, falling 9-1 in the series finale.
 
It did not take long for the Hilltoppers (15-8, 3-0 Heartland) to gain the upper hand, scoring six runs in the first-three innings of the game. The Jets (6-12, 0-3 Heartland) would have their best chance to score early in the bottom of the second inning, after Aaron Mack singled up the middle and then advanced to second base on a balk but would be left stranded at second to end the inning.
 
Alex Hoelscher came out of the bullpen in relief for the starting pitcher and provided the Jets with three quality innings, including five strikeouts.
 
Newman put a run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning. Rene Rivera got on base from a Hilltopper error to begin the bottom of the fifth and Easton Herring doubled to deep left center to bring Rivera across the plate to put the score at 7-1 after five complete innings.
 
Channing Williams singled through the left side of the infield to begin the bottom of the sixth inning for Newman and then stole second base to get into scoring position. Williams could not get any further to plate as the inning ended with left at second base.
 
The Hilltoppers would go on to win the series finale 9-1 to wrapup the first weekend of conference play for either team.
 
The Jets will have a busy upcoming week on the road with midweek games at Fort Hays State Tuesday and Emporia State Wednesday before traveling to Oklahoma Panhandle State for next weekend's conference series.