ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. – Newman and Central Missouri finished their three game set with a double header in Arkansas City at Tiger Ball Park as the Jets and Mules were forced to move the series south due to snowfall Thursday night.  The #10 Mules completed the three game sweep but not without some noise from the Jets in game three.  UCM won game two 15-1 and the final game of the series 11-7 in 10 innings to escape with the three wins on the weekend.

Final Newman 1 Central Missouri 15
Final/10 Newman 7 Central Missouri 11

The Jets will regroup with a 14-12 (4-9 MIAA) mark following the weekend.  UCM is yet to concede an MIAA game as they are now 13-0 in the conference and 19-3 overall.

Game 1:

Newman jumped out to a 1-0 lead against the Mules in game one as Hayden VanDePol drew a walk with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second.  That was all the Jets could scratch across as UCM made a call to the bullpen for Conner Wolf who picked up the win.  Wolf and Babbitt combined for 9 strikeouts over the final 5 innings and 0 hits.

The UCM offense would not go quiet over the final 5 frames as they scored in each frame.  Nate Denniston picked up his second loss of the season lasting 5.1 innings.  Denniston struck out 4 before taking the exit on the day.

Game 2:

Behind a gutsy performance by Asher Finke, Newman gave the Mules all they could handle and more.  It took 10 innings to decide game three in Ark City.  The contest featured seven lead changes and five ties.

After nine complete, the Jets led the Mules in hits, 10-7.  UCM manufacture their runs and used clutch hits to bring the game even.

Key Plays:

BTM 3: UCM 4 NU 2

Anthony Ferrante stroked a 2 RBI double to left field to bring the game even.

BTM 4: UCM 4 NU 4

VanDePol singled up the middle scoring Tyler Push to give the Jets their second lead of the game 5-4.

TOP 6: UCM 4 NU 5

Two scoring plays and one non-scoring play to set up the second run of the inning came clutch for the Mules.

A Pennington RBI double scored one to tie the game.  With Pennington on second, Steele laid the perfect sacrifice bunt to move Pennington up 90 feet.  The next batter, Tatum, hit a sacrifice fly to give the Mules a 6-5 advantage.

BTM 6: UCM 6 NU 5

Jenner Steele stepped to the plate with VanDePol on base after a hit by pitch.  Steele stepped in to a fastball sending it over the wall in right center to push the Jets ahead 7-6.

TOP 8: UCM 6 NU 7

Josh Steele answered the bell for the Mules as he homered off of Connor Langrell on a 3-2 pitch to even the game at 7 that eventually sent the game into extra innings.

TOP 10: UCM 7 NU 7

Another high pressure 3-2 pitch came in the top of the 10^th with a runner on third.  It was Josh Steele again for the Mules, this time he drew a walk on a wild pitch that scored Brennan Van Burgesen.  Which put UCM ahead for good.

Newman competed well against a tenth ranked Mules team that answered the bell when Newman rang all weekend long.

Asher Finke put forth a commendable effort allowing 4 earned over 7 innings while striking out 4, which accounted for all UCM batter strikeouts in game three.

Jenner Steele finished 3-5 with a HR and 3 RBI.

Up next the Jets will welcome Southwestern College on Wednesday March 23^rd for a doubleheader that will feature two 7 inning games beginning at 2:00 PM.