WICHITA, Kan. — A thrilling two-out rally in the Game 2 gave the Newman softball team a positive finish to a Heartland Conference doubleheader split with Rogers State Friday at Newman Softball Field.
GAME 1
Key Sequence
The Jets (7-28, 3-15 Heartland) were going hit-for-hit with the Hillcats (25-8, 10-4 Heartland) in the opener and held the lead after three innings, but RSU got a leadoff walk in the fourth, followed by two singles and a double that all scored runs to push the guests in front on the way to a four-run inning and a 6-3 victory.
How It Happened
-An error got the Hillcats on the board in the top of the first, as a leadoff single to start the game came around to score. The Jets answered in the bottom half though, as Delaney Hiegert singled, stole second, and scored on Emma Eck's single that dropped down in left.
-Newman tagged onto its lead in the second with the help of an error. Hayden Francis was hit by a pitch to lead off, and Bailey Bugner's sacrifice bunt was thrown away, allowing Francis to scoot to third. Taylor Mannis grounded out for what should have been the third out, and Francis pushed the Jets ahead 2-1.
-The fourth inning was the only time the Hillcats were able to string some hits together, but an RBI single with one out, followed by a hit by pitch, and two-run double and another RBI single pushed RSU to a 5-2 lead it would not give up. Adrienne Esposito followed Bugner's double in the bottom of the fourth with one of her own to push a run across, but that was all the Jets would get.
GAME 2
Key Sequence
Down by a run heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Jets quickly were down to their final out after two groundouts. Francis kept hope alive with a single, and Bugner followed with a base hit to center. Esposito pinch ran for Francis and slid around to score on an Erin Jankiewicz single through the right side, and Lacey Colvin smacked a 2-2 pitch back up the middle to plate Bugner and send the hosts off with a 3-2 win.
How It Happened
-A walk and a double got the Hillcats on the board in the first. Starter Chantel Purcella got out of a jam in the top of the second, and Newman responded by tying it up in the bottom half, as Eck singled and scored on a double from Francis.
-The Jets got two on with one out in the third, but had a run cut down on a first-and-third play. Things quieted down from there until Rogers State wrestled the lead back with a solo home run in the top of the fifth. The Hillcats loaded the bases later in the inning, but Purcella induced a ground ball to get out of trouble.
-Newman got a runner on in both the fifth and sixth, but couldn't tie it up. Needing to get to the bottom of the seventh to get their last shot, Wallace got Newman to the plate with a slick diving play at second in the top of the seventh to start a 4-6-3 double play.
NOTES
-Nique Payne entered in relief in Game 2, facing the minimum with the help of Wallace's double play ball to pick up the win.
-Bugner chipped in with two hits in each game Friday, finishing the day 4-for-5 with a double and two runs scored.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Jets and Hillcats return to Newman Softball Field for a single game Saturday afternoon to wrap up the series.
