Read the latest updates for the Newman University Jets
BASEBALL
The Jets took three of four games from Texas A&M International last weekend, then split with NCAA Div. II and Heartland Conference provisional member Arkansas-Fort Smith Tuesday night, all at McCarthy Field. Newman defeated TAMIU 5-4 and 4-2 in Friday’s doubleheader, then won Saturday’s opener, 3-2, before dropping a 10-5 decision to the Dustdevils in the series finale. Tuesday night, Brett Cardona’s second home run of the night lifted the Jets to a 15-13 extra-innings win over Arkansas-Fort Smith in the first game of the doubleheader, before the Lions came back for a 7-3 win in the nightcap.
With a 21-25 overall record, and a 19-21 mark in Heartland Conference play, the Jets will host Oklahoma Panhandle State in the final home series of the season this weekend at McCarthy Field. Friday’s doubleheader is slated to begin at 5 p.m., while Saturday’s nine-inning game will begin at Noon.
SOFTBALL
Newman won its first Heartland Conference game of the season with a 3-2 win over Lincoln Sunday afternoon in Jefferson City, Mo. Steph Harshberger went four-for-four at the plate as the Jets held off the Blue Tigers for their second win of the season. The win was sandwiched between two losses, as Lincoln opened the series with a 9-3 win, and closed the series with a 5-3 win. Tuesday night, the Jets traveled to Hays, where Fort Hays State handed them a two-game sweep, 9-1 and 7-0.
The Jets conclude their season this weekend, hosting Oklahoma Panhandle State for three games. The series begins Saturday at 7 p.m., with a doubleheader following Sunday, starting at noon. All games will be played at Newman Softball Field.
WOMEN’S GOLF
A team of five freshmen battled their way to a third place finish at the Heartland Conference Championship tournament, which concluded Tuesday at Rose Creek Golf Course in Edmond, Okla. Linzi Allan and Andrea Martires led the Jets, finishing with identical 36-hole scores of 151, and tying for sixth. Allan opened with a first round of 76 (+4) and finished with a 75 (+3), while Martires opened with a 79 (+7), but finished with a 72 (E) in the final round. Alyssa Balding also finished in the top 20 for the Jets, finishing tied for 18th with a 160 (+16).
Allan, Martires, and Balding were each recognized as All-Heartland Conference performers following the event. Allan was a first team selection, while Martires and Balding made the second team.
The Jets must now wait to hear if they will be selected for the NCAA Regional Championship.
MEN’S GOLF
Noah Smithson shot all three rounds at par or better, and led the Jets to a fourth-place finish at the Heartland Conference Championship tournament, which wrapped up Tuesday at the Rose Creek Golf Club in Edmond, Okla. Smithson followed an even-par round of 72 with back-to-back rounds of 69 (-3) to finish tied for sixth in the event.
Josh Russell and Nick Ver Elst joined Smithson in the top-20 at the tournament. Russell opened with a first round of 74 (+2), then shot a second round of 70 (-2) before concluding with a 73 (+1) to post a tournament score of 217 (+1). Ver Elst, meanwhile, opened with a 75 (+3), then followed with a 74 (+4), but made his statement for the tournament with a third round of 69 (-3) to post a tournament score of 218 (+2).
Smithson was recognized following the tournament by earning All-Conference honors.
Smithson and the Jets will hear later this week whether or not they will be awarded an NCAA Regional bid.
BOWLING
The Newman bowling team made an early exit at the National Bowling Championships last week in El Paso, Texas. After the qualifying rounds, Newman drew the 12th seed in the double elimination tournament, and dropped back-to-back games to finish tied for 13th. The trip to El Paso had its bright spots, however. Derek Hartnell was named the National Most Valuable Player by the collegiate bowling coaches association.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Junior Laryssa Ferreira remained unbeaten in Heartland Conference singles play, but it wasn’t enough to push the Jets past Arkansas-Fort Smith, as the Lions picked up a 8-1 decision over the Newman women’s tennis team Tuesday in Tulsa, Okla. The win gave Ferreira a 5-0 mark in Heartland Conference singles play, and made her the only undefeated No. 1 singles player in the conference this season. Ferreira is 16-1 in singles play this season, with her only loss coming in a three-set decision at Midwestern State.
Ferreira and the Jets will be back on the courts this weekend, heading to Dallas, Texas for the Heartland Conference Tennis Championships.
MEN’S TENNIS
The Jets dropped a pair of 7-2 decisions last week. Johnson County Community College and Arkansas-Fort Smith proved to be too much for the Jets in the losses. Newman will head south for their final tournament of the season this weekend, participating in the Heartland Conference Tennis Championships in Dallas, Texas.
