WICHITA – Newman capped off its season with a 9-6 win on Senior Day over Northeastern State.  The win was just what the Jets needed with their season on the line.  Playoff hopes were dashed, however, as Emporia State defeated UCO to clinch the eighth seed.

Final NSU 6 Newman 9

The Jets finish their season .500 at 23-23 (13-20 MIAA).  NSU is now 34-14 (22-11 MIAA) and will be the two seed in the MIAA Tournament after going 2-1 in Wichita.

Newman turned to Asher Finke in the must win game three Sunday.  Finke got the no decision as his line finished with 4.2 innings and 6 runs on 6 hits and three walks.  Finke added 4 punch outs in his final start of 2022.

Trailing 6-0, Newman needed a big push.  On the legs of 3.1 scoreless innings pitched and 4 strikeouts, Ian Lecki energized the Newman offense, which exploded for nine unanswered runs.

Senior, Zack Hargrove kick started the offense with a 3-run shot that there was no doubt about it to cut the lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the sixth.

Just after the YMCA blared through the speakers at the seventh inning stretch, Jenner Steele let loose on a ball to right center, hurling his bat to the third base dugout as he did not miss a stitch of the ball to bring the game to 6-5.

With the bases loaded, Jake Angelico stepped in.  Down to his last strike, Angelico fouled off a handful of pitches to stay alive.  NSU's Bell got the right fielder to chase, but a passed ball allowed for Carson Hawks to score safely to tie the game and extend the inning.

This set the stage for Tyler Push, the fifth year senior with records to his name before the at bat.  Push worked the count full and used his old man strength to crush a ball to the right center gap that cleared the center fielder's head.  The Fremont, Nebraska native slid into third base to greet his electrified home dugout, knowing he ultimately sealed the game for his fellow seniors and his team.

After Lecki polished off a nearly flawless day on the mound, then entered Connor Langrell who locked down his league leading tenth save.

Four Jets were honored before the game.  Seniors, Tyler Push, Lincoln Choate, Zack Hargrove and Crae Pfannenstiel were each integral parts in the 14 game turn round from a season prior.  Coach Drew Maus spoke of their legacy on the program as "leaving it better than they found it."

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