FORT SMITH, Ark. — A big inning and a shutout on the mound earned the Newman baseball team a win, but it had to settle for a split on the first day of a Heartland Conference series against Arkansas-Fort Smith Sunday afternoon.
GAME 1
Key Sequence
Walks by Tyler Push and Ked Bailey got the Jets (12-20, 4-6 Heartland) off to a good start against the first-place Lions (21-9, 7-3 Heartland), and three straight hits from Brian Canfield, Clay Druin and Jake Hanson all scored runs to give Newman a 4-0 lead that held up throughout for the win in the opener.
How It Happened
-Hanson's two-run single made it 4-0, more than enough support for starter Zack Erdman. The junior allowed a leadoff double in the bottom of the first, but recovered to get out of the jam, and didn't allow a runner past second base through the first four innings.
-The Lions got runners on second and third with one out in the fifth, but a runner was cut down at home on a fielder's choice, and a ground ball after an eight-pitch at-bat ended the threat. Erdman picked up a strikeout with two on in the sixth, then set the Lions down in order in the seventh to complete the shutout.
GAME 2
Key Sequence
The Lions held a tight two-run lead after some early scoring in the nightcap, but took advantage of an error and a wild pitch in the sixth to tack two more runs on. In the seventh, the hosts added two more runs without getting a hit, adding key insurance runs on the way to a 7-1 win.
How It Happened
-Three straight singles with two outs had the Jets threatening once again in the top of the first, but a groundout left the bases loaded. The Lions responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame, getting a key two-run double with one out.
-A sacrifice bunt with runners on the corners from Turner Lace plated Channing Williams in the top of the second to cut into the lead, and Blake Thunberg ended up working the next 4 1/3 innings without allowing a hit.
-The Jets ended up notching three singles over the fifth and sixth innings, but all three came with two outs, and Newman couldn't push across a run before UAFS began adding to its lead.
NOTES
-Erdman picked up his first shutout of the season, going seven innings and allowing six hits and a walk while matching a season-high with seven strikeouts. He has a 1.71 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in his three Heartland starts this year.
-Canfield posted three hits on the day, while Williams turned in a 3-for-4 performance in Game 2. Paul Rupnik and Aaron Mack each went 2-for-4 in the second game, as the Jets notched 10 hits.
WHAT'S NEXT
Newman and UAFS wrap up their series with another doubleheader Monday afternoon.
