GAMES 28, 29, AND 30

Newman Jets (11-16, 5-8 MIAA) vs Central Oklahoma Bronchos (18-8, 7-6 MIAA)

Friday, March 24^th – Sunday, March 26^th   | McCarthy Field | Wichita, Kansas

Friday - 3 PM | Saturday  – 2 PM | Sunday – 1 PM

Series Record: NU and UCO are tied 5-5 |  Last Meeting: NU 3. UCO 1

Video: THE MIAA NETWORK Live Stats: www.newmanjets.com | Listen: Newman Jets Audio Network

Up next: vs Fort Hays State | March 28^th   | WICHITA, KANSAS | VIDEO | LIVE STATS | LISTEN
 
LOOKING FOR CONSISTENCY
The Jets are 11-16 and have moved to 5-8 in conference play  after being swept this past weekend in Warrensburg. Newman was defeated in 7 innings in both of Sunday's games vs the Mules and then lost the series finale 4-8 to UCM. NU has been scratching and clawing to get back to .500 and were winners of 5 out of their last 6 heading into the series at UCM before the sweep. Newman looks for more consistent play heading into this weekend's series against a UCO squad that the Jets took 2 of 3 from last season. UCO hasn't won a conference series since early March at Rogers State.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Newman lost 4-8 to UCM. Eli Wohl had 3 of the 4 Jets RBI's and hit his first home run of the season vs the Mules. Newman and UCM were tied 4-4 in the 7^th before the Mules scored 4 unanswered late in the game to roll away with the win. The loss put Newman 0-12 all time vs Central Missouri. BOX SCORE | RECAP

MEET YOUR COACHES
Drew Maus is in his 4th season as head coach of the Jets. His 2022 campaign saw the Jets post their best record since the 2016 SEASON, finishing 23-23 and 1 game shy of making the MIAA tournament for the first time ever. 2022 SCHEDULE

John Martin is 213-129-1 in 7 years heading into the 2023 season.

THE JETS
Newman is 11-16 through the first 6 weeks of the season. The Jets won their opening series vs Southern Nazarene, taking 2 of 3 from the Crimson Storm. Newman lost their next 2 games before their series vs Minot State and then defeated Southwestern College the following Tuesday. The Jets gave Rogers State an early top 25 exit after taking 2 of 3 from the No. 21 Hillcats 2 weeks ago. Newman then took losses vs Southeastern Oklahoma State (7-17) and East Central (5-8) and then was swept by Washburn in Topeka. Newman bounced back their next 2 games with mercy rule wins vs Central Christian and NWOSU and then back to back mercy rule wins over Missouri Western to take the series win before dropping game 3. NU bounced back with a dominant performance over Fort Hays State last Tuesday. Newman heads into the series vs UCO on a 3 game losing streak after a tough weekend in Warrensburg, Missouri.

SCOUTING THE BRONCHOS
UCO is 18-8 overall and sit at 7-6 in MIAA play. The Bronchos have won just 2 MIAA series (2-1 vs Rogers and 3-0 vs MWSU) and were swept by MSSU 3-0 and lost the series vs Fort Hays State 2-1.
The Bronchos offense is 7^th in the MIAA in batting with a .300 average. Jaden Parsons sits atop the Broncho offense with a .382 average in 23 starts with 34 hits and 15 RBI's.
The pitching staff ranks first in the conference with a 3.81 ERA. They have given up 98 earned runs which is the least in the conference. Expect to see Wambold, Dominguez, Spry, or Lopez for the Bronchos as potential starters on the mound.

SERIES HISTORY BETWEEN NU AND UCO
The series is tied 5-5 between the Jets and Bronchos, dating back to 2011. The Jets have won the last 2 meetings vs the Bronchos. SERIES HISTORY 
 
NOT AFRAID TO SWING
The Jets offense ranks 2nd in the MIAA in average (.319). They're 4^th in hits, 3^rd in RBI'S, and are 3^rd in runs. They put together a streak of 4 games where they mercy ruled their opponents.
The Jets 23 runs scored in game 3 at SNU is tied for most runs scored by an MIAA team this season and their 22 RBI's in the same game is also tied for the most by an MIAA team all season. (2023 SEASON STATS)
 

MADE OF STEELE
Jenner Steele has been intimidating pitchers all season and has been in the top of the standings on the offensive side.
The senior out of Branson, Missouri is 8th in the MIAA after 26 games with a .400 batting average with 42 hits, 32 RBI's and 8 home runs which is 5^th most in the MIAA.
Steele has been an on base machine posting a .462 OBP and a 1.167 OPS.

In the series against Washburn, Steele became the Newman all-time home run leader in the D2 era with his 16^th bomb going over the left center field wall into the trees to make history. Steele did it in just a season and a half at Newman and hit his 17^th career home run just 2 days later in game 3 at Washburn.

ANGEL(ico)S IN THE OUTFIELD
Jake Angelico has started in 26 games for the Jets. The senior out of New Braunfels, Texas earned MIAA Hitter of The Week in week 1 for his 6 hit, 10 RBI performance, the first MIAA AOW for Baseball in Newman history.
Angelico is batting .340 with 32 hits, 6 doubles, a triple, and 4 home runs to go along with a team leading 33 RBI's. Jake is 15-16 on stolen base attempts this season. He ranks 2^nd on the team in average.

Eli Wohl (JR/Ponca City, OK) is 26 for 72 this season in 24 starts in his first season as a member of the Jets. The transfer from Cowley CC is 9-10 on stolen bases. In the series finale vs UCM, Wohl hit his 1^st home run of the season.
 
HAY HAYDEN

Hayden VanDePoll is here to stay. The graduate student has posted a .307 career batting average for the Jets and looks to replicate and top last season's .317 season where he started 46 games and belted 7 home runs with 38 RBI's. The 5^th year has been hot as of late, moving his average to .311 with 19 hits and 15 RBI's. He hit his first home run of the season two weeks ago vs MWSU.

MAKING HIS MARQ IN RIGHT FIELD
Shawn Marquis is batting .321 with 26 hits and a home run in 20 starts and 22 appearances. Marquis is 8-8 on stolen bases and was a key figure in the Jets 2-0 shutout over No. 21 Rogers State. Marquis made 2 SportsCenter top 10 worthy diving plays, one that doubled up a man on second base to keep the shutout in tact ending the inning.

THE MEN IN THE MASK 
Dalton Smith and Anthony Ferrante have split time behind the plate for Newman. Smith (SR/Norman, OK) is 11 for 34 with 12 RBI's this season and Ferrante (SR/Midlothian, OK) is batting .302 in 53 at bats with 2 doubles. Dalton had 3 RBI's in the win vs NWOSU on 2 weeks ago, knocking a ball off the wall for a 2 run double.

ON THE MOUND
Garrett VanDeventer is 3-2 in 6 appearances in 2023 with 24 K's. He'll look to build upon his 2022 season where he threw for 4 wins, 41 K's, and 1 complete game in 70.1 innings pitched. The senior out of Arkansas City got the win in his first start of the season at SNU and his 2^nd win in the 2-0 3 hit complete game shutout vs Rogers State, his most impressive start to date. He went 7 innings strong only allowing 2 runs in his outing vs Washburn. He helped keep the Griffon's bats cold in their 10 run victory over MWSU.

Asher Finke is 2-2 in 6 starts this season. Finke will try and top his 7-2 stat line from last season where he held opponents to a .258 average with 62 K's while throwing a complete game in 78.1 innings of work. He got the win in game 2 of the series vs Rogers State, allowing just 2 earned runs and 5 hits in 5 innings of work. He has struck out a team high 36 batters in 30 innings of work.

Nate Denniston is 1-3 in 6 starts this season, earning the win in 4 innings of pitching in a 7 inning win over SNU in the first series of the season. Denniston was 5-7 a season ago with 68 K's. No. 20 struck out 9 batters in his outing vs Minot State. He has pitched the 2^nd most innings on the team this season (36).

Jaret Granger has appeared in 10 games in relief with 12 K's in 12 innings pitched.

Braden Oberle has appeared in 4 games with 4 K's in 4.2 innings.

Andrew Prieve has struck out 19 batters and has earned the lone save for NU in 6 appearances. He struck out the side to end the game vs Southwestern College.

Colby Wilson has recorded 20 strikeouts in 27 innings. Wilson has appeared in 9 games, starting 5 of them. He pitched 4.1 innings in the win over Fort Hays State.

Lance Elsen has appeared in 7 games, recording 6 strikeouts 

Ian Lecki has 17 strikeouts in 12 innings of work. He is 3-1 on the season.

AROUND THE HORN
We've done enough talking about Jenner's accomplishments this season so far. Jenner Steele and Carson Hawks have been the main two at first base this season. Hawks has 11 hits and 4 home runs this season

Don't be fooled by his freshman status, second basemen Jack Kiser has started in 25 games this season with a .313 batting average and a .434 OBP.

Shortstop Zack Stewart has 23 RBI's in his first 26 games. The senior hit a home run in every game vs Rogers State to bring his total to 6 on the season at the time. He hit his 7^th home run of the season in game 2 of the series last weekend vs MWSU.

Third baseman Jason Schneider is 33 for 99 (.333) in 23 starts. He has hit 2 home runs, 2 triples, and 4 doubles this season.

HISTORY MAKERS
Jake Angelico became the first MIAA Hitter of The Week award winner in Newman history. The senior earned MIAA Hitter of The Week in week 1 for his 6 hit, 10 RBI performance in the opening series at Southern Nazarene. MIAA HITTER OF THE WEEK 

Garrett VanDeventer decided he wanted in on the awards too. The Senior threw a 3 hit complete game shutout over then No. 21 Rogers State, putting a stop to the Hillcats 8 game win streak and giving the Jets their best win of the season. He was voted MIAA Pitcher of The Week for the performance, the first in Newman Baseball history. MIAA PITCHER OF THE WEEK

UP NEXT
Newman will continue its 12 game home stand next week with visits from Fort Hays State and Northwest Missouri State.



2023 MIAA Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Central Missouri [11] – 121 Points
2. Pittsburg State – 100 Points 
3. Northeastern State [1] – 97 Points
4. Central Oklahoma – 94 Points 
5. Washburn – 85 Points
6. Missouri Southern – 77 Points
7. Rogers State – 60 Points
8. Northwest Missouri – 45 Points
9. Emporia State – 43 Points
10. Newman – 33 Points
11. Missouri Western – 26 Points
12. Fort Hays State – 11 Points

2023 MIAA Baseball Standings
1. Central Missouri (19-7, 11-2)
2. Missouri Southern (20-7, 11-3)
3. Pittsburg State (18-7, 10-3)
4. Washburn (17-10, 10-3)
5. Central Oklahoma (18-8, 7-6)
6. Emporia State (11-15, 6-6)
7. Rogers State (18-8, 5-7)
8. Newman (11-16, 5-8)
9. Fort Hays State (13-16, 4-9)
10. Northeastern State (9-14, 4-9)
11. Northwest Missouri (4-19, 2-10)
12. Missouri Western (5-18, 2-11)
* Nebraska Kearney and Lincoln do not have baseball programs