WICHITA, Kan. — With both teams locking horns evenly for 16 innings, the Newman softball team split a doubleheader to open up a Heartland Conference series against St. Edward's Saturday afternoon at Newman Softball Field.
The Jets (15-33, 8-9 Heartland) took the first thriller of the day against the Hilltoppers (19-29, 11-6 Heartland), as both pitchers were locked in until one run in the sixth proved the difference in a 1-0 win. Things were just as even until the top of the 10th in the nightcap, but St. Edward's put up five runs to salvage a split with an 8-3 victory.
The series is key for both teams, as Newman is fighting for a spot in the conference postseason and St. Edward's for the league title.
Kate Smith, one of seven Newman seniors honored after the games on Senior Day, had her stuff working from the start, sitting the Hilltoppers down in order in three of the first five innings, and allowing just a runner on an error in a fourth. The Jets got out of a jam in the top of the third, getting the final two outs of the frame with two runners aboard to keep it scoreless.
Two runners reached for the Jets in the first, as Rachael Withers walked and Mikayla Medbery reached on a bunt single, but Withers was caught stealing at home on a first-and-third play to end the threat. Singles from Ariole O'Neal and Delaney Hiegert helped load the bases in the third, but St. Edward's pitcher Ashlee Rex struck out two to get out of her own jam.
With Smith cruising — retiring 13 of the final 15 batters she faced in the game — Newman needed an offensive spark. Senior Mikayla Medbery was the one to provide it, leading off the sixth with a double to left. Senior Jensen Cromer grounded out to the right side to move her up to third, and O'Neal forced a throw that ended up as an error with two outs to allow Medbery to scamper home with what would be the winning run.
It took another big play to close it out though, as St. Edward's got a runner to third with one out in the top of the seventh. A fly ball right on the left field line was corralled easily by Hiegert, who fired a strike to Bayley Horsch to cut down the runner and end the game.
Smith allowed just three hits and didn't walk a batter while striking out three to earn her second shutout. Medbery went 2-for-3 to collect half of the Jets' hits in the game.
The first two innings of the second game was more of the same, but the Hilltoppers struck first in the third. An error and three hits, including two singles with two outs, helped plate three runs for the guests for the early lead.
It didn't take long for the Jets to respond, as Horsch was hit by a pitch to lead off the third, and Withers followed by reaching on an error and stealing second. An RBI groundout by Medbery got Newman on the board, and Erin Jankiewicz slashed a double to left to score one more and cut the deficit to one.
Cromer stranded a pair of two-out singles in the fourth, and the Jets were able to get their own offense to click with two outs in the bottom half. Hiegert stole second after a walk, and rolled through to score on Withers' single to left to tie it.
That was the final run of the game until the 10th. Medbery doubled to lead off the seventh, but Newman wasn't able to get the walk-off hit. They also got the leadoff runner on in the eighth and 10th, but couldn't match the Hilltoppers' big inning.
Cromer worked around nine hits and a walk while striking out five over the first six innings. Five different Jets notched a hit, and Withers swiped two bases in the game.
Newman and St. Edward's return for the final game of the series at noon Sunday.
