WICHITA, Kan. – Newman Softball split a pair of Heartland Conference games with St. Edward's on Friday (AIpr. 12). The Jets held the Hilltoppers scoreless in the opening contest winning 8-0 before falling by a score of 3-1 in the second contest. NU is now 11-31 on the year and 5-20 in Heartland Conference play while SEU moved to 14-22 on the season and 10-16 in the Heartland Conference.
GAME 1
Dominique Payne tossed a three-hit shutout and took advantage of a Jets offense that generated eight runs. Payne struck out five and walked four while facing 22 batters.
Sophomore Bailey Bugner put the Jets in business in the opening frame with a single up the middle sparking a two-out rally. Lacey Colvin drew a four pitch walk. Emma Eck came through with an-RBI single up the middle scoring Bugner giving Newman an early 1-0 lead.
Newman would add another two runs in the home half of the second on a Lauren Kuhrt 2-out triple bringing home Bayley Horsch on the play. Paige Wallace continued the 2-out rally with an RBI double to right center.
The Jets would break the game open with a four run fourth-inning as Colvin delivered a bases clearing double to center field. Colvin would come home extending the NU lead to 7-0 on Eck's RBI double to left field.
In the home half of the five, the Jets would get a 2-out baserunner again as Shanda Cox reached base via the lone Hilltoppers error. Kuhrt would seal the shutout for the Jets with an RBI single up the middle scoring Cox ending the game in five-innings on the run rule.
GAME 2
Unfortunately the offense would not carry over in the second game as the Jets managed to score just one run over seven-innings on Hilltoppers starter Olivia Burdick.
After falling behind 1-0 in the opening frame, the Jets were unable to take advantage of a leadoff Lacey Colvin double in the home half of the second. The trend continued in the third as the Jets were unable to break through after Adrienne Esposito singled to open the inning.
The Jets were unable to break through in the fourth as Kameron Pope struck out swinging stranding Emma Eck and Lauren Ogden at second and third after recorded back-to-back two out singles.
SEU would extend their lead 3-0 with a pair of runs in the sixth. The Jets would break through on the scoreboard in the home half, with a sacrifice fly by Eck scoring Bailey Bugner. Ogden setup the tying run at second base lacing a double down the left field line moving Colvin to third. The Jets would call upon Anna Veltien to pinch hit for Pope. Veltien looking for her first knock of the season laced a frozen rope down the third base line, but was snagged in by Lauren Garza ending the threat.
In the seventh inning, Esposito recorded her second hit of the day with a leadoff double putting the tying run at the plate with no-outs however the Jets comeback attempt fell short as the Jets were unable to get another baserunner.
Bailey Bugner (2-11) pitched 5.0-innings allowing just one run on six hits while striking out one before being relieved by Lauryn Ogden who went 2.0-innings allowing two runs on two hits while walking one.
The Jets will look to win the season series tomorrow afternoon (Apr. 13) for senior day. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. from the NU Softball Field in Wichita, Kan.
