OKLAHOMA CITY — The Newman Baseball team split the day with the Oklahoma Christian Eagles losing the first game in extras 4-3 and winning game 2 10-3 behind some good pitching. The Jets split their series with the Eagles for the second time this year after splitting a nonconference series earlier this season.
Game 1
Key Sequence
The Jets (14-24, 6-10 Heartland) were looking to hold on to their one-run lead going into the bottom of the ninth in extra innings against the Eagles (18-18, 8-8 Heartland), the Eagles would get some timely walks and a single by Drew Wright scored Conner Litterell giving Oklahoma Christian the game 1 victory.
How It Happened
-Both teams used great pitching and defense in the first three innings no team getting the edge offensively until Oklahoma Christian got on the board first with a Garrett Wages single to center field advancing on a Callen Crockett sac bunt, a Hunter Markwardt single to left field scored Wages giving the Eagles the lead early. In the fourth, Oklahoma Christian got on the board again first Chad Kennedy singled to left bringing up Alex Garcia who doubled down the right-field line scoring Kennedy giving the Eagles a 2-0 lead.
-Newman was able to get back into the game in the sixth Brian Canfield got things started with a double to right field advancing on a Paul Rupnik groundball. Canfield would later score on an Eagle pass ball making it a 2-1 game, later in the sixth, a Tyler Push double down the left field line scoring pinch hitter Rene Rivera tying the game at two going into the final inning.
-Both teams used some quality pitching in the extra innings, the Jets would take the lead in the top of the ninth, Push got the team started with single up the middle a Turner Lace single to second set up Ked Bailey for a single to right field scoring Push and giving the Jets a 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the inning.
-Going into the bottom of the ninth, the Jets were looking to shut the door on the Eagles in game 1, but the Eagles used some good plate discipline to draw a couple of walks and a timely bunt by Julian Ly advancing runners and bringing up Drew Wright who would single to center field scoring Litterell and giving Oklahoma Christian a 4-3 victory in Game 1.
Game 2
Key Sequence
The Jets (14-24, 6-10 Heartland) used the first three innings to get a lead on the Eagles (18-18, 8-8 Heartland), while the Jets pitching was able to give the offense opportunities to grow their lead and that would lead to Newman getting the game 2 victory and the series split with Oklahoma Christian.
How It Happened
-In the first three innings, the Jets used some timely hitting and quality production from their lineup in game 2. Jake Hanson, Brian Canfield, and Paul Rupnik got the Jets started in the first couple of innings giving the Jets a 9-2 lead going into the last innings of the shortened game 2.
-Oklahoma Christian didn't go away too easy they were able to get some good looks at the plate themselves, being able to cut the Newman lead to six but the effort put forth by starter Blake Thunberg who had a pitching line of six innings, three runs, three walks, and three strikeouts giving his team maximum effort in the Jets game 2 victory.
Notes
-Ked Bailey had a good game 1 going 3-for-5 with an RBI, Tyler Push added a 2-for-4 game with an RBI, a run scored, and a double.
-Jake Hanson had a big day for the Jets going 2-for-4 with 5 RBIs, while Bailey, Canfield, and Lace added 2-for-4 games with two RBIs and a double.
What's Next
The Jets return home for a matchup with Texas A&M International April 20 & 21 beginning at 2 p.m. and Noon.
