WICHITA, Kan. — The Newman baseball team rallied back with five straight runs Thursday afternoon (Feb. 14) claiming their home opener 7-3 over the Gorillas from Pittsburgh State.
The Jets were able to get on the board in the first after a Dalton Dinkel single through the left side, Mitchell Austin singled to right field to score Turner Lace who was hit by a pitch in his at bat. Starter Zach Erdman was able to give the Jets some relief on defense as he kept the Gorillas scoreless going into the fourth.
In the fourth, The Gorillas would tie the game after an error allowed Gorilla shortstop Marc Gonzalez to score and tie the game at two. The Gorillas would take the lead in the top of the sixth after a Ty Herrenbruck single through the left side scoring Tyson Cushman. The Jets would get right back in it in the bottom of the sixth, Daniel Blake was able to work a walk and advance on a Matt Reeves bunt, Mason Nagle came up and got a great pitch to hit hitting a big home run to left field giving Newman a one run lead going into the later portion of the game.
The bottom of the seventh, the Jets were able to get some insurance to keep their lead as the game was coming to a close. Dinkel began the inning with a double to left field, Austin came up and was able to work a walk as well as Blake who also walked. Reeves would come up and get a hard hit ball to the shortstop for the double play but would score Dinkel and advance Austin to third. Nagle would continue the hot day with a single through the right side for the RBI and give the Jets a 6-3 lead. In the bottom of the eighth, Tyler Push would put the game away with a leadoff triple down the right field line and Paul Rupnik would bring him home with a single to right field giving the Jets a 7-3 lead and Garrett Hammond would close it out with two shut down innings.
Mason Nagle and Dalton Dinkel gave the Jets a great performance at the plate both players going 3-for-4
Ryan Boaz got the win for the Jets after coming in relief for Erdman only giving up one run and striking out two.
Hammond would close out the final two innings with no runs, one walk, and four strikeouts
SCHEDULE NOTE – The Jets weekend series against Truman State has been canceled due to cool temperatures and winter weather expected in the area. The Jets will return home a week from Friday (Feb. 22) to begin a three game set against Regis State. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m. from McCarthy Field in Wichita, Kan.
