BOLIVAR, Mo. — Getting two solid starts in the circle and with the bats working, the Newman softball team split a nonconference doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at Southwest Baptist.
GAME 1
Key Sequence
The Jets (6-27) trailed by just one heading into the bottom of the fourth, but the Bearcats (11-14) took advantage of a two-out error to double their lead. In the next frame, Newman had a chance to cut into that lead with two on and one out, but a groundout and a strikeout ended the threat as the hosts held on for the 2-0 win.
How It Happened
-Nique Payne got out of a first-inning jam with a lineout and strikeout. Both teams put a runner on base in each of their first two innings, but the Bearcats took advantage first, as a walk and a single pushed across the game's first run in the bottom of the second.
-SBU added to that lead in the fourth, getting a one-out double and loading the bases with a pair of walks before an error allowed a run to score. Erin Jankiewicz and Taylor Mannis both singled in the top of the fifth, moving into scoring position on a groundout, but a strikeout ended the threat.
GAME 2
Key Sequence
Chantel Purcella was locked in throughout the game, but after the Jets took a lead in the top of the fourth, she retired 12 of the final 13 batters she faced to make the lead stand up in a 1-0 win for the Jets.
How It Happened
-The Bearcats put together a double and a single to put runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the second, but Purcella got a pop up and a strikeout to get out of the threat.
-Newman's offense woke up in the fourth, with Delaney Hiegert getting things started with an infield single. She moved up to third on a wild pitch and a ground ball, and Abby Davis knocked her in with a single to put the Jets in front.
-Purcella then went into cruise control, needing just 31 pitches to fly through the final four frames. Only two balls left the infield in that stretch, and the only runner came on a single to start the sixth.
NOTES
-Game 2 was Newman's first shutout of the season, as Purcella went the distance and allowed just three hits and no walks while striking out three.
-Newman cranked out 13 hits on the day, including two doubles. Jankiewicz, Paige Wallace, Hiegert and Davis each had a two-hit game.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Jets return home for a Heartland Conference series against Rogers State, starting with a doubleheader Friday.
