WICHITA - Newman Softball earned a huge win over Emporia State to open conference play on Saturday, winning the second game of the doubleheader with a 7-4 win.
The games, originally scheduled for Friday, were moved back to Saturday due to rain in the area.
Game 1
The first game did not go according to plan for Newman, as the Jets fell into a big hole early.
The Hornets had three huge innings to open the game, scoring ten runs without a Newman reply. The Hornets were able to get two of the runs off of errors in the third, which scored the ninth and tenth runs for Emporia State.
Hayley Bonython helped get some of Newman's offense rolling in the bottom of the third, with her double into center field allowing
Gianna Navarro to score the Navy and Reds first run of the game.
Two more runs would be scored by Newman in the following inning. With the bases loaded, Navarro was hit by pitch and scored a Jets runner to bring the lead down to 10-3. Another walk shortly after gave the Jets a fourth run.
Despite scoring four unanswered, a home run in the fifth really put things out of reach, as the Hornets won game one, 15-4.
Malie Noda and
Lauren McNaught each had two hits.
Jackie Gold struck out two batters in just over an inning of work to open the game.
Game 2
Newman's fortunes were much better in the second game, as the Jets were the ones to take a strong lead early and not let go.
With the bases loaded in the first inning, McNaught hit a single into deep left field to score Bonython and Madison Canez.
Another hit for Noda against the Hornets scored Bonython once again as the Jets were rolling. Two more runs would be scored with the bases loaded as the Jets continued their early shutout.
The Hornets responded with a run in the fifth, but thanks to some hitting and base running from
Kayla Lopez, Newman took a six run lead.
A late hornets comeback was shut down by Gold, as she came in for relief of
Paola Zamacona in the ninth inning. Zamacona pitched nearly the entire game and earned her second win of the season.
The Jets held on late to win 7-4 to give them the win on the opening day of conference play.
Noda added three more hits and an RBI in game two, while DP
Lauren Kwak added two more hits.
The Jets will be back in action tomorrow for another conference doubleheader, taking on Washburn beginning at noon.
