BRANSON, Mo. - The Jets hit the road to open the 2026 campaign. On day two of the Branson Leadoff Classic, Newman faced Sioux Falls and Missouri S&T. The Jets defeated Sioux Falls, 3-2.
Game one vs USF: NU 3, USF 2
-The opening score in the top of the first inning came from
Malie Noda who doubled to left field that scored
Lani Dryden who drew a walk earlier in the inning. The next score would come off a single by
Hannah Nordby, pushing Noda across the plate. This score gave the Jets the 2-0 lead to finish the top of the first inning. Sioux Falls answered in the bottom of the first with a score from Jochimson, making it 2-1 at the end of the first. The Jets would score the next run, coming in the fourth inning after
Lauren McNaught singled and scored Nordby. A ground ball hit in the bottom of the seventh would give USF a score from Pryor. The Jets defense behind Audrey Rumsey would be able to close out the seventh giving up just one run. Newman took the win, 3-2.Â
Player Notes:Â
-Nordby, Noda, and McNaught batted in runs for the Jets.
-Rumsey gets the win in the circle.
Game two vs S&T: NU 2, S&T 8
-The Miners put up three runs in the top of the first inning, taking the early 3-0 lead over the Jets. The next score would come in the top of the second inning by the Miners, putting one more on the board to extend their lead to 4-0. The Miners would later add one more run to their lead in the top of the third inning, taking the lead to 5-0. The Jets could not get the bats rolling on the offensive end, hitting the end of five innings with just two hits on the game.
Audry Rumsey got the Jets bats rolling in the bottom of the seventh, where she started the inning with a double. McNaught would follow this up with a double of her own to score Rumsey for the Jets first run of the game. Later in the inning, an RBI by Dryden would score another run for Newman. However, the Jets were unable to close the gap. The Jets would fall short, 8-2.Â
Player Notes:
-McNaught and Dryden both tallied RBIs.Â
-Noda and McNaught both went 2-3 from the plate.Â
Newman Softball will hit the road for the Washburn Tournament in Topeka, Kansas. The first game is Friday, February 20th against Wayne State at 12:00 PM followed by a game at 2:00 PM against Minnesota Crookston.Â
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