WICHITA, Kan. – Defensive miscues and timely hitting allowed the Newman Jets to rally in the late innings and defeat the Fort Hays State baseball team on a chilly Friday afternoon at McCarthy Field (Feb. 9), 10-3. The Tigers dip to 4-2 on the year, while the Jets move to 1-1 after evening things out in their first series of the year. The teams are scheduled to return to Larks Park on Monday (Feb. 12) for the rubber game of the series. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

Fort Hays State limited Newman to just two runs over the first five innings of the game, but the home team erupted for eight runs over its final three at bats to pull away.

The Tigers committed five errors in the loss, nearly as many as the team made in its first five games combined (eight).

Newman jumped in front with a pair of runs in the second inning before the Tigers finally broke through in the top of the fourth. Addison Kaasch pulled a 2-2 pitch down the left field line, legging out the first triple of the year for a Tiger. The junior sprinted home in the next at bat when Jordan Wilkerson tapped an RBI groundout to short, cutting the Jet lead in half.

Alex Ruxlow came out of the bullpen to get the Tigers out of trouble in the bottom of the third, getting a strikeout to leave the bases loaded. The senior silenced the Jet bats for the next two innings, giving the FHSU offense a chance to rally back.

Wilkerson opened a two-out rally in the top of the sixth with an infield single before swiping second. A walk to Colton Helm loaded the bases after Bryce Whitchurch was hit by a pitch, forcing Newman to go to the bullpen. Cody Starkel stepped into the box as a pinch hitter and came through with a big base knock, putting the Tigers in front 3-2 with a two-RBI single to left center.

Newman went back in front for good in the sixth with four unearned runs on three errors before tacking on four more insurance runs in the eighth. FHSU was unable to capitalize on a pair of hits over the final three frames, twice leaving runners in scoring position.

Jason Nicholson and Kaasch each collected a pair of hits, accounting for four of FHSU’s eight base knocks on the day.

Ruxlow (0-1) was charged with the loss despite giving up just two unearned runs on five hits over three innings of work while striking out a pair. All five pitchers to toe the rubber were charged with two runs.