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Box Score 3 Wichita, Kan.—The Aggies missed out on an opportunity to improve their record over the weekend as they were swept by Newman University in a three-game Heartland Conference series Friday and Saturday. The Jets, who currently lead the conference with 75 stolen bases on the season, took nine successful steals on the Aggies over the three-game stint.
In Friday's doubleheader the Aggies were defeated 2-4 in game one and 3-5 in the second matchup.
Samantha Arledge led off in the circle for the first contest and dropped to a 7-9 record on the season after allowing nine hits for four earned runs; the senior threw out five batters with strikes and walked only one. The Aggies' two runs came in the top of the sixth inning when
Julia Ibarra hit a big triple that sent
Faith Guzman home from first; Ibarra then came through on a fielder's choice from
Darcie Wilson. Newman held a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the sixth after bringing in two runs each in the third and fifth innings. Zero hits were allowed for the remainder of the game giving the Jets their first win of the weekend.
Of Newman's nine hits in game one, three went for extra bases (doubles); Guzman had two of the Aggies' three hits, both singles, and Ibarra's triple led to the only RBI for OPSU. The Jets totaled four stolen bases in the game, two of which ended up scoring runs, while the Aggies made no steal attempts in game one.
Criselda Luna got the start for OPSU in game two and pitched 6.0 innings in the matchup. Luna took her fifth loss of the season on seven hits and five earned runs; she threw two strikeouts in the game. The Aggies scored one run in the top of third to tie the game.
Sarah Gregori reached base on an error to lead off the inning, a sac bunt from
Julia Ibarra advanced Gregori to second; she then crossed home as
Brooklyne Bolton also reached on an error. The score remained 1-1 through the top of the fifth inning, but Newman brought in four runs in the bottom of the fifth with two doubles and three singles to pull ahead 5-1. Ready to rally,
Madison Heathington stepped up with a double in the top of the sixth with two outs. Luna followed up with another double good for one RBI;
Janna Ruether then hit a single to score Luna and edged the Aggies within two runs of the Jets (3-5). Ruether was sent to third with two singles but a ground out ended the inning and left three runners on base.
OPSU's defense held the score through the bottom of the sixth giving the Aggies an opportunity to add some runs in the seventh. With one out, Bolton hit a single to centerfield, but two strikeouts dashed the hopes for a comeback. The Aggies out-hit the Jets nine to seven in game two and totaled three doubles in the matchup, but eight runners left on base and eight strikeouts from Newman's pitchers made the Aggies miss out on scoring opportunities.
Arledge was back in the circle on Saturday for game three and a rough start for the Aggie defense led to three runs for their opponent in the first inning. A hit leadoff batter stole second and scored on an RBI single for the first run of the day. A follow-up double and another single with an added error brought in two more for the Jets. The Aggies were held hitless until the top of the third when
Faith Guzman drove a double to left center; a bunt brought the third out and left the runner on base for OPSU. Newman scored two runs in the fourth with the help of a walked batter, two stolen bases and two RBI singles. The Jets allowed just one hit in five innings to the Aggie batters and took three hits for one run in the fifth to advance to a 6-0 lead. Ibarra added one run for OPSU in the bottom of the sixth as she hit a single up the middle with two outs and came home on a double by Bolton, her second of the series. Zero hits were given up by Arledge and the Aggies in the bottom of the sixth leaving the score 1-6 going into the seventh.
Madison Heathington led off with a solo homerun to open the inning, but three outs came too soon for the Aggies as they fell 2-6 in the final game of the series.
The Aggies drop to 18-28 on the season and hold six wins within the Heartland Conference. OPSU Softball will conclude their home schedule this weekend with a three-game conference series against Oklahoma Christian University April 22-23. Friday's doubleheader will start at 1 p.m. and seniors will be recognized prior to Saturday's game which is set for Noon.
