TOPEKA, Kan. — Dealing with a pitching staff that was in a groove, the Newman softball team fell in both games of a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon against Washburn in nonconference action.
GAME 1
Key Sequence
Down by one after one frame, the Jets (2-15) saw the Ichabods (10-5) collect four hits in the bottom of the second on the way to scoring a pair of runs. That lead held up, as the hosts earned a 4-1 victory in the opener.
How It Happened
-A one-out triple and three straight singles with two outs allowed the Ichabods to go up 3-0 in the second inning. Newman starter Bailey Bugner settled in from there, but the Newman offense wasn't able to put the ball in play consistently to bridge the gap.
-The Jets benefitted from six walks in the game, and got a runner to third in three straight innings from the fourth through the sixth. Abby Davis made a walk count in the fourth, eventually coming around to score on a wild pitch to make it 3-1.
-A two-out rally by Washburn in the sixth tacked an insurance run on, and the Jets went down in order for the first time in the top of the seventh to end it.
GAME 2
Key Sequence
Newman took its first lead of the day with a pair of runs in the top of the second in Game 2, but Washburn retook the lead in the third, putting together a hit by pitch, a triple, a walk and a single, all with two outs, to plate a pair of runs, and would hold on the rest of the way in a 6-2 victory.
How It Happened
-The Ichabods got on the board with a two-out RBI in the bottom of the first, but the Jets were able to get a couple clutch hits in the next half-inning. Hayden Francis started it with a two-out walk, and Taylor Mannis followed with a single before Adrienne Esposito drove them both in with a triple to center to make it a 2-1 game.
-After the hosts went back up by one in the third, they followed with three more in the fourth to break it open. A pair of errors helped plate those runs, as the Jets allowed just one hit in the inning. Washburn pitcher Kelsee Henry got into a groove, retiring 14 straight after Esposito's triple to hold off any threat.
NOTES
-Despite some trouble at the plate, Newman picked up eight walks on the day. Francis posted a hit and two walks, while Davis, Paige Wallace and Erin Jankiewicz each reached base twice.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Jets kick off a two-week homestand on Friday, hosting Lubbock Christian for a Heartland Conference doubleheader.
