HAYS, Kan. — Kicking off the 2018 season with a slugfest, the Newman baseball team fell 13-9 at Fort Hays State Thursday afternoon.
KEY SEQUENCE
The Jets (0-1) netted four runs in the top of the first, but the Tigers (4-0) put up crooked numbers in the first two frames. A five-run second put the hosts on top for good, as runs scored on three of their four hits in the inning before an out was made.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The first at-bats of the season were nice to a number of Jets, as Brian Canfield doubled to left to score two runs. Jon Coufal took the fifth pitch he saw in his Newman career deep to right center for a two-run home run and a 4-0 lead.
-The Tigers netted three runs in the bottom of the first, and their big five-spot in the second gave them the lead for good, but the Jets hung around. Jake Hanson's two-run homer to left in the third cut the deficit to two, and a Canfield solo shot followed by an RBI single from Will Jordan in the fifth made it 11-8.
-After initial trouble, Avery Riedmiller pitched a solid 3 2/3 innings allowing just one hit and two runs, while Quinton Bonnell and Chris Luschen each tossed a hitless frame late.
NOTES
-Canfield picked up where he left off last season, going 4-for-4 with three RBIs, a double and a home run. Four Jets joined him with multiple hits, as Hanson, Jordan, Paul Rupnik and Turner Lace each posted two.
WHAT'S NEXT
The two teams make the quick turnaround to face each other in Newman's home opener at McCarthy Field Friday at 2 p.m.
