AUSTIN, Texas — Shutting out its opponent for the first 13 1/3 innings Thursday, the Newman softball team had to settle for a split in a Heartland Conference doubleheader against St. Edward's.
GAME 1
Key Sequence
The Jets (13-35, 7-20 Heartland) got a fourth straight excellent start in the circle from Chantel Purcella, and a few clutch runs in the top of the fifth made the difference against the Hilltoppers (5-40, 5-21 Heartland). Hayden Francis led off with a single and was pinch run for by Adrienne Esposito, who scored on a double steal with two outs. That came during a 13-pitch at-bat by Emma Eck, which ended with a single to end the scoring in a 2-0 victory.
How It Happened
-Erin Jankiewicz doubled between two errors that loaded the bases for the Jets in the top of the second, but the guests left the bases full as the scoreless game continued. Purcella, who only allowed two hits in the game, didn't give up her first one until the bottom of the third.
-That leadoff single didn't do much, as Purcella retired the next nine batters she faced and picked up a couple of runs of support. Another leadoff single in the sixth was a bit of a threat, but the junior sat down each of the last six Hilltoppers of the game to secure the win.
GAME 2
Key Sequence
SEU still struggled to get anything going against Purcella as she continued into the second game. They found a slight opening in the bottom of the seventh though, getting two hits before a fielder's choice scored the first run of the game for the hosts as the second out was recorded. That was followed up with a big swing from Karolina Rodriguez, who sent a home run over the wall in center to tie it up on the way to a 4-3 win for the Hilltoppers.
How It Happened
-Newman jumped on the hosts in the top of the first, as Delaney Hiegert walked, Taylor Mannis singled and Paige Wallace laid down a sac bunt to score Hiegert. Eck followed with a single through the left side to make it 2-0 early.
-Each team was able to get runners on over the next few innings, but no runner passed second base until Eck loaded the bases in the fifth with a single. A double from Bailey Bugner to start the sixth got Newman in position to add to the lead, which it did as Hiegert knocked Bugner home with a single to make it 3-0.
-Purcella got out of a jam in the sixth before the Hilltoppers rallied to send it into extras. Newman had two on in the top of the eighth, but couldn't score. That allowed SEU to put two runners on in the bottom of the ninth before an out. With runners on second and third, a collision between the Hilltopper runner and shortstop Bugner was called obstruction instead of interference, allowing St. Edward's to walk away with a controversial win.
NOTES
-Purcella's shutout in Game 1 was the junior's second in three games after blanking St. Mary's last week. She held the Hilltoppers to just two hits, and those two singles were the only baserunners Purcella allowed. Her scoreless inning streak pushed out to 17 1/3 innings before St. Edward's got on the board in Game 2.
-Newman cracked 12 hits in Game 2, including a 4-for-5 game from Mannis, three hits from Eck, and two apiece by Hiegert and Bugner.
WHAT'S NEXT
Newman faces St. Edward's in the series finale at noon Friday.
