WICHITA, Kan. – The Newman Softball team forced a doubleheader split Wednesday evening (Apr. 18) falling 7-6 in game one before coming back in the nightcap winning 6-1 over Heartland Conference leading Rogers State. NU is now 13-32 on the year and 7-21 in Heartland Conference play while RSU moves to 31-7 on the year and 16-9 in the conference.
GAME 1
The Jets gained the early 1-0 advantage in the third inning trading an out for a run as sophomore, Paige Wallace executed a perfect safety squeeze attempt.
Rogers State would respond back however with back-to-back three run innings taking a 6-1 lead in the top of the fifth. In the home half of the inning sophomore, Bailey Bugner trimmed the deficit to 6-3 with a 2-RBI double to center scoring Cox and Bayley Horsch. One batter later, Lacey Colvin knotted the score up 6-6 blasting her team leading seventh home run of the season.
RSU would gain the lead for good 7-6, scoring the eventual game winning run off the Jets lone error of the game.
The Jets would have one last rally attempt putting runners at second and third with no-outs, but a base running mistake ended the NU comeback attempt.
GAME 2
In game two, the Jets responded back strongly putting a crooked number on the board with a four run fourth. Bayley Horsch got the scoring started on a bases loaded RBI infield single. Shanda Cox continued the two-out rally roping a 2-RBI single to left field scoring Stanford and Ogden before Horsch would come across later on the play after a fielding error.
The Hillcats would get a run back in the third inning trimming the NU lead to 4-1.
Emma Eck broke open the game in the home half of the fourth with a 2-RBI single to third base scoring Bailey Bugner and Lauren Kuhrt extending the Jets margin to 6-1.
Starting pitcher, Dominque Payne (8-11) was brilliant pitching a complete game allowing just one run on three hits, walking seven, while fanning five HIllcat batters.
The Jets will have a quick turnaround as they hit the road Wednesday afternoon (Apr. 17) for a non-conference doubleheader against Fort Hays State University.