WICHITA, Kan. — With both teams seeing a pitcher toss a shutout, the Newman softball team split a doubleheader against Oklahoma Christian to start off a Heartland Conference series Friday evening at Newman Softball Field.
The Jets (9-28, 3-5 Heartland) weren't able to get a run across in a 6-0 opener against the Eagles (22-15, 5-3 Heartland), but a great performance from Jensen Cromer and some hot bats in the second game led to the split as Newman grabbed a 4-0 win in the nightcap.
Oklahoma Christian, which was held to just one run over the final 13 innings played Friday, didn't get a runner past first base with less than two outs in the second game, as Cromer avoided any high-stress situations. She allowed just a pair of two-out baserunners over the final three innings to hold OC at bay.
After a frustrating opener, the Jets got to work quickly at the plate, as Erin Jankiewicz doubled with one out in the second, eventually scoring on Hayden Francis' sacrifice fly down the line in right to get the hosts on the board.
A big third added to that lead and then some, as the only out in the first five batters was a sac bunt by Lacey Colvin. Delaney Hiegert and Mikayla Medbery both singled before the bunt, and Cromer followed it by flying around the bases for a triple. Taylor Mannis then dropped a single into center to push the lead to 4-0.
Medbery and Kendra Mendoza each had two hits, with Medbery's extending a hitting streak to seven games. Cromer tossed her first shutout of the season, spreading around five hits and walking three while added three strikeouts.
In the first game, a big first inning for the Eagles proved to be the difference. The guests scored five runs on four hits before Newman got its first at-bats.
Starter Kate Smith settled in to toss a stellar final six innings to keep the Jets in it though, scattering four hits, walking none and hurling six of her seven strikeouts after getting out of the first. A solo home run in the sixth was the only other scoring for OC.
Rachael Withers went 2-for-3 at the plate in the first game to lead the Newman offense. One of the senior's singles put two runners on in the second for the Jets, and twice more the hosts got the lead runner on, but the Eagles managed to get out of the jam each time.
The two teams conclude this weekend's series with a rubber match back at Newman Softball Field at 10 a.m. Saturday.
