WICHITA - Newman Baseball overcame a poor 1st inning that saw 5 Hornets cross the plate, scoring 13 unanswered runs from the 4th through 8th innings to sting Emporia State and tie the crucial MIAA series 1-1.
 
Asher Finke moved to 3-4 on the season. He struck out 6 batters and went 6 innings, giving up just 1 earned run. After struggling in the 1st inning, Finke retired his next 8 batters to cool off a hot ESU offense.
 
Jace Schneider led off with a triple in the top of the 4th and scored on a ground ball by Zack Stewart to get Newman on the scoreboard.
 
Eli Wohl singled to right field with 1 out in the 5th inning and 2 batters later Jenner Steele (at the time) took the lead in the single season home run race by hitting his 12th home run of the season over the right field wall to make it a 5-3 game.
 
The Jets were able to get to the Hornet bullpen in the 6th inning. After taking out starter Noah Geekie, the offense rallied for 5 runs. Hayden VanDePol singled with bases loaded for an RBI which gave Eli Wohl an opportunity to tie or take the lead. Wohl singled to center to tie the game and the center fielder misplaced the ball, leading to all runners scoring. It didn't get any better for the Hornets after that. Jake Angelico brought in Wohl on an RBI groundout to make it an 8-5 Jets lead.
 
Colby Wilson came in relief in the 7th inning and struck out the first 2 batters he faced and got the next one to fly out. Wilson retire all 6 batters he faced in the game
 
Dalton Smith got on base in the bottom of the 7th and with Jack Kiser at the plate the Jets ran a hit and run play that drew away the Hornet 2nd basemen. The ball went to right field and the right fielder bobbled it, leading to Smith scoring and extending the Jets lead to 4.
 
The Jets put the hammer down in the bottom of the 8th. Hayden VanDePol scored on Jason Schneider's sacrifice fly, then Zack Stewart tied the single season home run record with a blast that went over the left center field wall.
 
With an 8 run lead, Andrew Prieve came in to pitch in the 9th inning. He struck out ESU's Beauregar to end the game.
 
Newman moves to 18-20 and 10-12 in the MIAA. A high stakes series finale is set for tomorrow at 1:30 PM It is senior day for 14 Jets. The ceremony is scheduled to start at 1:00 PM.