HAYS, Kan. — Things started settling in as the game went on, but the Newman baseball team got started a little too late, suffering a 9-6 loss to Fort Hays State Tuesday to close the three-game series that lasted six days.
KEY SEQUENCE
The Jets (1-2) scored six runs and put up seven hits while holding the Tigers (5-2) to a lone run over the final four innings, but a five-run bottom of the first proved to be too much. The hosts scored five times on five hits and were helped by a Newman error to build the big lead.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Tigers notched four singles and a double after their leadoff man reached on an error to quickly get in front in the first inning. A single after a hit by pitch tacked on another run in the third, and two more scored in the fourth to stake the home team to an 8-0 lead.
-With Avery Riedmiller churning out two scoreless inning on the mound for the Jets, they responded by getting on the board in the sixth. Brian Canfield walked and Jake Hanson was hit by a pitch, and with one out, Daniel Jahnke loaded the bases with a single. Channing Williams followed with a two-run single to left.
-Newman chipped away a little bit more in the seventh, as Hanson tripled to deep center to score Matt Reeves, and was knocked in by a Clay Druin single to make it 9-4. In the top of the ninth, the guests seemed ready to make the Tigers sweat, as Hanson and Williams each notched RBI singles to make it 9-6. While there was still a bit of work to do, a strikeout left two runners on to end it.
NOTES
-Riedmiller, Avery Chenier, Myron Johnson and Collin Loutensock each tossed one of the final four innings. Each allowed one runner, but only allowed a solo home run and one total walk to keep Fort Hays at bay as the Jets started to chip away.
-Hanson and Williams each had a pair of hits, while Jahnke made nice work of a mid-innings substitution, going 2-for-2 with a walk.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Jets return home to start another series made quirky due to weather, hosting No. 8 Emporia State Thursday at 3 p.m. at McCarthy Field.
