WICHITA, Kan. — With a new Heartland Conference scheduling format in place, the Newman softball team will get league play underway early this year, heading to Texas A&M International and St. Mary's for doubleheaders this weekend.
SCOUTING NEWMAN
The Jets (2-9) are coming off a 1-3 week in a pair of doubleheaders against Northwestern Oklahoma State and Southeastern Oklahoma State. Three of those games were tight, with Newman earning an 8-5 win over the Rangers before dropping the second game 2-1. Against the Savage Storm, the Jets rallied to tie in the opener, but ultimately fell 7-5 in extra innings, and Southeastern picked up a 10-0 win in the finale.
Leaders
Abby Davis-.423 avg., 2 2B, 2 RBI, .516 OBP
Delaney Hiegert-.324 avg., 7 runs, 1 2B, 1 3B, .425 OBP 3 SB
Paige Wallace-.318 avg., 5 runs, 1 2B, .375 OBP
Leah Graham-4 app, 1 start, 0.00 ERA, 3.1 IP, 2 BB, 1 SO
Chantel Purcella-4 app, 3 starts, 2.41 ERA, 20.1 IP, 11 BB, 22 SO
SCOUTING THE DUSTDEVILS (Friday, noon)
TAMIU (3-15) has played a tough schedule thus far, playing eight games against teams currently ranked or receiving votes in the NFCA poll. The Dustdevils went 1-3 at the West Texas A&M Invitational last weekend, and dropped a pair of games against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Tuesday.
Leaders
Cassie Cannon-.406 avg., 14 runs, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .563 slg., 4 SB
Lindsey Smith-.333 avg., 10 runs, 2 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, .549 slg, 5 SB
Maya Paul-.326 avg., 5 runs, 3 2B, 5 RBI, 2 SB
Delainy Thompson-7 app, 7 starts, 4.05 ERA, 38.0 IP, 18 BB, 20 SO
Melanie Lint-11 app, 6 starts, 4.67 ERA, 45.0 IP, 20 BB, 22 SO
SCOUTING THE RATTLERS (Saturday, noon)
St. Mary's (10-6), which is receiving votes in the latest national poll, are coming off a 4-1 weekend in Florida, where they topped Florida Tech, Flagler and Adelphi. The Rattlers were supposed to face Rogers State in their Heartland opener on Friday, but that doubleheader was postponed.
Leaders
Abigaile Carney-.370 avg., 8 runs, 2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, .630 slg, .431 OBP
Taylor Germain-.359 avg., 6 runs, 5 RBI, .432 OBP
Brenda Iparraguirre-.340 avg., 11 runs, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 13 RBI, .560 slg.
Alex McLennan-8 app, 3 saves, 1.21 ERA, 17.1 IP, 5 BB, 12 SO
Hope Russell-7 app, 7 starts, 4-2, 1.94 ERA, 39.2 IP, 12 BB, 24 SO
NOTES
-Davis is fourth in the Heartland conference with her .423 average in this early part of the season, while her .516 on-base percentage puts her fifth in the conference.
-St. Mary's and TAMIU are second and third, respectively in both batting average and runs scored as a team. The Rattlers also post the league's second-lowest team ERA at 2.46, although the Dustdevils are sixth at 4.92.
COVERAGE
All four games this weekend will features live video and statistics, available at www.newmanjets.com.
