WICHITA, Kan. — A flurry of early runs was the only scoring of the game, as the Newman softball team suffered a 3-1 setback against Texas A&M International Saturday in the finale of their Heartland Conference series at Newman Softball Field.

KEY SEQUENCE

The Jets (4-22, 1-10 Heartland) trailed since the top of the first, but they were looking to draw even with the Dustdevils (9-20, 6-5 Heartland) in the sixth. Down by two, Taylor Mannis drew a leadoff walk, and Tyesha Morgan followed with a single to give Newman two runners with no outs. TAMIU made a pitching change though, going to Delainy Thompson, who induced two fly balls and a ground out to get out of the threat.

HOW IT HAPPENED

-A single and a walk started the Dustdevils on a positive note in the top of the first, and a two-out double to center from Alyssa Acuna plated both to give the guests an early lead for the first time in the series.

-A leadoff walk from Mannis in the bottom half, followed by a steal and a fielder's choice, put the senior in position to score on Emma Eck's sacrifice bunt, cutting the deficit to 2-1 after just one inning. The Dustdevils tacked onto that lead in the second, as an error extended the inning and allowed a two-out single to make it 3-1.

-Neither team could get much going offensively the rest of the way. The Jets put two runners on in the fourth and the sixth, and Newman starter Nique Payne got out of a one-out bases-loaded jam in the top of the fifth, but TAMIU's lead held.

NOTES

-The top four in the Newman order — Mannis, Morgan, Abby Davis and Eck — reached base a combined seven times, notching all three of the Jets' hits and four walks.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Jets continue Heartland play and close their 11-game homestand with a doubleheader against Oklahoma Christian Wednesday afternoon.