WICHITA, Ks. — An early lead against a solid squad in the Jets wasn't enough for Griffon Baseball during Saturday's unorthodox home game at McCarthy Field.

Newman knocked off Missouri Western 11-4 thanks to late home runs to keep the Griffons at arms length. The Griffons were up 2-0 after one, but the Jets jumped on starting pitcher Samson Holcomb for four runs in the second. With MWSU only down 5-3 in the sixth, a two-run shot by Newman's Jake Angelico stilted all momentum for the Griffons. 

 Even though MWSU tallied 14 hits and went up 2-0 early, they left 11 runners on base. Newman notched 15 hits of their own, including eight extra-base hits. 

Missouri Western found momentum early with six-straight batters reaching base in the bottom of the first. After Brady Holden single's to left field was replaced with a fielder's choice by Brenden Andersen, Zach Hanlan's double to left-center field marked the first drop of blood. Will Courtney sent a single to center to score Hanlan, putting MWSU up 2-0 after one. 

Three RBI hits by the Jets in the second quickly evaporated the Griffons' lead, putting Newman up 4-2. Alex Crouch helped MWSU creep closer with an RBI single to score Ryan Neise in the fourth. The lead went back to two for the Jets when Holcomb let up a solo homer to Tyler Push. 

Next Up

Missouri Western (3-13, 1-6 MIAA) and Newman (13-7, 3-4 MIAA) go at it again on Sunday at 2 p.m. Since the series was originally scheduled to take place in St. Joseph, MWSU is still the home team.