SAN ANTONIO — Locked into tight games throughout, the Newman softball team suffered a frustrating doubleheader sweep at the hands of St. Mary's Saturday afternoon in Heartland Conference action.

GAME 1

Key Sequence

After leaving two runners on in the top of the sixth in a one-run game, the Jets (2-13, 0-4 Heartland) saw the Rattlers (12-6, 2-0 Heartland) made them pay, getting two walks in the bottom half and pushing them both home, one on a single and another on a sacrifice fly to make it 4-1, which ended up being the final score.

How It Happened

-A single and a double with two outs put a pair of runs on the board for St. Mary's in the bottom of the first. The Jets cut that lead in half in the third, as Adrienne Esposito doubled with one out, and eventually came around to score on an error to make it 2-1.

-Newman starter Chantel Purcella did a good job of getting out of trouble in the middle innings, stranding six runners from the second through the fifth to keep Newman within striking distance.

-Delaney Hiegert and Tyesha Morgan each singled in the top of the sixth, and were able to reach second and third with two outs, but a pop up ended the threat. In the seventh, facing a three-run deficit, Paige Wallace singled with one out, but the Jets couldn't get the rally started.

GAME 2

Key Sequence

With pitchers Nique Payne of Newman and Hope Russell of St. Mary's cruising along through five innings, the Rattlers made their move in the sixth. Scoreless at that point, the hosts notched five hits in the inning, scoring three runs on three RBI hits to take the lead, and that's all they would need in a 3-0 win.

How It Happened

-Hayden Francis led off the top of the third with a single, getting around to third after a sac bunt and a passed ball, but she was stranded there after a strikeout and a ground out. Payne worked around single baserunners in the first, third and fourth, but was still stuck in a 0-0 game.

-A walk and an infield single in the bottom of the fifth got runners on the corners for the Rattlers, but the lead runner was picked off by Francis from behind the plate to end the threat.

-Needing to make up a three-run deficit in the final inning once again, Erin Jankiewicz singled with one out in the seventh, but a double play ended it.

NOTES

-Wallace went 2-for-3 in the opener to pace the Jet offense. In all seven different Jets picked up a hit on the day.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Jets dip back into nonconference action, heading to Washburn for a pair of games Tuesday afternoon.