WICHITA, Kan. – The Newman baseball team went up against Oklahoma Christian Thursday afternoon at McCarthy Field for the series opening doubleheader, but dropped both games to begin the Heartland Conference series.
 
Joe Cannady earned the nod as the starting pitcher for the Jets (16-21, 4-10 Heartland) in Game 1 and sat the Eagles (23-17, 10-7 Heartland) down 1-2-3 to begin the game in the top of the first inning. In the top of the second Cannady and the Jet fielders managed to get out of an early jam with a runner at second base to keep the score at 0-0, heading into the bottom of the second.
 
Newman loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the second, with two walks and a helpful error from an Eagle fielder but could not break the deadlock as the second inning came to a close.  
 
Oklahoma Christian got on the scoreboard first in the top of the third inning to make the score 1-0. Daniel Jahnke led off the bottom of third with a single to left field to get on base but could not advance any further as the Jets still trailed 1-0, after three complete innings.
 
The Eagles added a run in both the fourth and sixth innings, to extend their lead out to 3-0. Aaron Mack doubled down the right field line with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, but remained there as the inning ended. OC added its final run in the top of the seventh inning to make it 4-0, which was the final score in Game 1.
 
Cannady pitched all seven innings for the Jets, only giving up two earned runs and talling seven strikeouts throughout the game.
 
In Game 2, the Eagles jumped out to an early lead by scoring three runs in the top of the first and two more runs in the second, to make it 5-0 after two complete innings. OC added another run in the top of the fourth inning, which made the score 6-0, heading into the bottom frame of the fourth.
 
Mack doubled to deep right center in the bottom of the fourth with one out to get into scoring position, but back-to-back outs ended any chance of putting a run on the board for the Jets in the fourth.
 
A sacrifice fly from Bailey in the bottom of the fifth scored Easton Herring from third base to put the only score on the board for Newman in Game 2, to make it 6-1.
 
Nick Griffin singled to left center with one out in the bottom of ninth inning, which was followed by another single coming from Channing Williams the following at-bat. Griffin advanced to third and Channing to second on a passed ball but neither runner could get home as the Eagles would take Game 2, 6-1.
 
Newman completes the three-game conference series Friday afternoon, with the series finale starting at noon at McCarthy Field.