Games 26, 27, 28

vs No. 21 Rogers State Baseball (21-3 (9-1))

3/20 | 3 PM | McCarthy Field
Video | Live Stats | Audio

3/21 | 2 PM | McCarthy Field
Video | Live Stats 

3/22| 12 PM | McCarthy Field
Video | Live Stats | Audio 

Last Time Out 
The Jets hosted Arkansas-Fort Smith in a weekend series. The Jets dropped the series to the Lions (4-16, 1-12, 9-14). They traveled to Joplin, Missouri for a midweek game on Tuesday, March 17th against Missouri Southern. The Jets would fall to the Lions, 12-4.

In the first game against the Lions Newman opened with back-to-back singles from Collin Morris and Kaynan Kaku. UAFS broke the game open in the third with four runs to go up 5-0. The Jets answered with a run in the bottom half, highlighted by an RBI triple from Morris, cutting it to 5-1.UAFS added two more runs in the fourth to extend the lead to 7-1. After a scoreless fifth, the Lions pushed it to 8-1 in the sixth before Newman responded with three runs, including a two-RBI double from Nicolas Ely and a two-RBI single from Kaynan Kaku, making it 8-4. Arkansas–Fort Smith pulled away late, scoring four runs in both the seventh and eighth innings. The Lions secured a 16–4 win in game one.

Arkansas–Fort Smith jumped out early in game two, scoring three runs in the first and adding four more in the second to take a 7-0 lead. Both teams were scoreless in the third, and the Lions extended their lead with two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to make it 10-0. Newman got on the board in the fifth when Justin Birch doubled and later scored on a single by Thomas Munn. However, UAFS answered with two more runs in the sixth to push the lead to 12-1. The Jets would fall in seven innings, 12–1. 

In game three of the series against the Lions Newman took an early lead behind Yeffry Correa Martinez, scoring twice in the first and adding another in the second to go up 3-1. UAFS added runs in the second and third, but the Jets responded with two in the third, highlighted by RBI plays from Kayden Dawson and Jackson Witt, to make it 5-2. The Lions rallied to tie the game at 6-6 by the sixth inning, then took control late. UAFS scored two in the eighth and six more in the ninth to build a 14-6 lead. Newman made a late push in the bottom of the ninth, highlighted by a three-run home run from Dawson, but the Lions would keep the lead and take game three, 14-9.

In the midweek against Missouri Southern State, MSSU struck first with a run in the opening inning and added solo home runs in the second and third to take a 3-1 lead after Newman tied it on an RBI single from Carter Andreozzi in the second. The Lions extended their lead to 5-1 in the fifth. Newman answered in the sixth with an RBI single from Kaynan Kaku, but MSSU responded with a run of its own to make it 6-2.The Jets rallied in the seventh with RBI hits from Andreozzi and Thomas Munn to cut the deficit to 6-4, but MSSU added five runs in the bottom half and added another in the eighth to secure a 12-4 win. 

Scouting the Jets 
Kaynana Kaku leads the Jets with a batting average of .353, 30 hits, 17 RBIs, and 18 runs. Anthony Cannavino adds to their offense with a batting average of .290 recording 20 hits. Justin Birch leads the team in extra base hits recording three home runs and six doubles. Frank Fabian continues to lead the Jets in innings pitched with 33.2 and a record of 2-2. Alex Gillig leads the pitching staff in strikeouts with 21 through 31.1 innings of work. 

Behind Enemy Lines 
Rogers State is currently on a win streak of 13 games and ranked No. 21. Andres Contreras leads the Hillcats offense with a batting average of .414 recording 36 hits including three home runs, five doubles, and one triple. Kade Goeke has recorded a batting average of .353 and leads the team in runs with 30. Jake Mitchell leads the team in extra base hits with six home runs and six doubles off 25 hits. On the mound, Dillon Dibrell has recorded a 4-1 record through 30.1 innings pitched with 30 strikeouts. Spencer Hatch leads the pitching staff in strikeouts with 37. Zach Horwith has pitched the most innings recording 35.2 with a record of 3-0.

The Series 
-The Jets have a 20-22 record against the Hillcats. They have a home record of 12-10. Newman recorded their last win against Rogers State in March of 2025. 

Next Up
Jets Baseball will travel to St. Joseph, Missouri for a weekend series against Missouri Western Starting on Friday, March 27th at 6 PM.