WICHITA, Kan. — Twice taking the lead, the Newman softball team couldn't quite hold off Lubbock Christian in a rain-shortened Heartland Conference opener Friday afternoon at Newman Softball Field.

The Jets (7-26, 1-3 Heartland) took a lead in the first and went back up in the third against the Chaparrals (20-10, 2-2 Heartland), but LCU got its bats working in the fourth to shoot out in front before a lengthy lightning and rain delay halted the 6-2 game after five innings.

Mikayla Medbery beat out an infield single with one out in the bottom of the first, then stole second to be able to come around to score on Jensen Cromer's two-out single through the left side to give the hosts an early 1-0 lead.

The Lady Chaps answered in the top of the second, picking up three hits, but Cromer held the guests to just a lone run by leaving the bases loaded.

A single from Hayden Francis got things going for Newman in the third, and Delaney Hiegert reached on an error. That set up Erin Jankiewicz, who beat out an infield single that forced a rushed through, and the ensuing error allowed Francis to score and put the Jets ahead again.

A Newman error extended the top of the fourth for LCU, and it took advantage, plating five runs to build a lead that would hold up after lightning initially delayed the game and rain forced its early conclusion.

Six different Jets notched a single in the game.

The rain also forced a postponement of the day's scheduled second game. The Jets and Chaps will return to Newman Softball Field for a doubleheader to conclude the series at 9 a.m. Saturday.