LORADO, Texas. – The Newman University baseball team's comeback attempt Saturday afternoon (Apr. 6) fell just short, falling 8-7 to Texas A&M International in the series finale. The Jets drop to 13-19 on the season and fall to 1-8 in conference play.
After falling behind 4-0 after the first three innings redshirt sophomore, Chris Opolka sparked a 2-out rally for the Jets stretching out an infield single. Daniel Blake and freshman Connor Langrell followed up the single drawing back-to-back walks loading the bases for Newman. A third straight walk to Tuner Lace plated home Opolka giving the Jets their first run of the day. The 2-out rally continued as the Jets cut the deficit to one 4-3, on Tyler Push's 2-RBI single scoring Blake and Langrell.
In the home half of the fourth, the Dustdevils would get two runs back on three hits extending the lead, 6-3.
Junior, Koby Millner got the Jets back in business leading off the fifth with a single through the right side. Mitchell Austin followed with a single to left center putting runners on the corners with no-outs. Kyle Koch pulled the Jets back within two reaching on a RBI fielder's choice scoring Millner. Unfortunately the Dustdevils responded back with two more runs in the sixth, 8-4.
The Jets continued to claw back as senior Paul Rupnik collected an RBI single through the right side scoring Push who laced a 1-out single to left field.
Newman would threat one last time as Rupnik recorded the Jets second triple of the game with 1-out in the eighth. Millner brought the Jets to within two roping an RBI double down the right field line scoring Rupnik. The Jets would cut the margin to one, 8-7 as Millner came home to score on a TAMIU wild pitch.
The Jets would have one final chance in the ninth but were unable to get a baserunner on base going down in order.
Zach Erdman (3-3) got the start working 1.2-innings allowing four runs (3-earned) on two hits, walking one and striking two out. Relievers, Jacob Stamel and Andrew Snyder each threw 1.2-innings allowing two runs apiece. Samuel Hersh provided a solid performance out of the pen working 3.0-innings allowing no runs on two hits and fanning three Dustdevils.
Rupnik, Millner, Opolka, and Push all combined for two hits apiece and accounting for eight of the Jets 12-hits.
The Jets will continue the four-game road trip Wednesday (Apr. 10) against Emporia State.
