HAYS, Kan. – The Newman baseball team began its week on the road with a single nonconference game Tuesday afternoon against Fort Hays State, with a ninth-inning, come-from-behind 9-7 win to start off the week.
 
The Jets (7-12) got on the scoreboard first in the top of the first inning, with help coming from the Tiger (7-14) pitcher who threw a wild pitch that scored Channing Williams from third, to put Newman out in front 1-0.
 
Newman extended its lead in the second inning by scoring one run to go up 2-0. The Jets earned their second run of the game by way of a double steal from Ked Bailey and Rene Rivera. Bailey would steal second to force a throw from the catcher, which Rivera made him pay for by crossing home plate with a steal of his own.
 
Fort Hays State answered with one run in the bottom of the second to cut into the Jet lead at 2-1. Neither team would score in the third inning but an Aaron Mack home run to right center in the top of the fourth would push Newman's lead out to 3-1.
 
The Tigers responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to go out in front 5-3 after four complete innings.
 
The Jets chipped away at the Fort Hays State lead in the top of the sixth inning with an RBI single to right center from Bailey, that scored Mack to make it 5-4, heading into the bottom of the sixth. Mack evened up the score at 5-5 with an RBI double to right field that plated Nick Griffin from first base in the top of the seventh inning.
 
Fort Hays pulled ahead again in the bottom of the seventh by scoring two runs to go back out in front 7-5 after seven complete innings. Both teams would be held scoreless in the eighth inning but Newman battled back with a huge top of the ninth to recapture the lead at 9-7.
 
The Jets would have the bases loaded with two outs, trailing 7-5 with Bailey at the plate. Bailey sent the ball to right field to score Paul Rupnik and Mack to even up the score at 7-7. Jacob Hamerle delivered the final blow of the game with runners at second and third by singling to center field, which scored Rivera and Bailey to pull ahead for the final time at 9-7.
 
Matt Riney had a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to complete the game and shutdown the Tigers, earning his second victory of the season.
 
Bailey went 2-of-2 from the plate with three RBIs, two walks and one run scored to lead the Jets to a comeback victory.
 
Newman is back in action Wednesday evening for a rematch against Emporia State on the road, starting at 5 p.m.