WICHITA - Newman Baseball picked up their second straight series win in the MIAA, defeating Fort Hays State behind impressive pitching and incredible offense.
The Jets had beaten the Tigers in Hays several weeks ago to even the series, with the game today being the rubber match between the two clubs after the Tigers had won the first game in early March.
With the game's first at bat,
Eli Wohl set the tone as he hit a triple off of one of the first pitches of the afternoon. Wohl would score just moments later off of a
Garrett Arnold single.
Two more singles from
Joe Kinneberg and
Jason Schneider each scored a run, giving Newman a 3-0 lead after just one frame.
A solo shot from
Connor Owens was good for a fourth Newman run, and after another hit from Schneider, the Jets found themselves with a four run lead.
Despite an impressive outing from
Garrett Calderon, the Tigers even the score in fifth. In just over four innings of work, Calderon struck out two and helped keep Newman in the lead for most of the time he was in the game.
In relief came
Brycen Schoenhofer. While a run was scored in just his few first minutes on the mound, he would have one of the most complete Newman pitching performances of the season. From that point onward he only allowed a single hit, and struck out four batters.
While the pitchers helped keep the game level for the Jets, the offense was quickly back to work to retake the lead.
In three consecutive plays, the Jets would score four runs in the sixth inning to give them a four run lead once again. A Kinneberg double got things started, scoring two runs. The very next play, Owens would reach home off a wild pitch.
Blake Mitchell then put the Tigers in serious trouble after his double scored Kinneberg.
Two more runs in the seventh put the game out of reach, and with Schoenhofer on the mound, no more hits would be allowed in the final two innings.
The Jets will have a crucial series against Northwest Missouri State this weekend in Maryville, as both teams are looking to make a late push to qualify for the MIAA postseason tournament. The series is set to begin on Friday at 3 p.m.
