The McLennan Highlanders extended their winning streak to 19 games with a sweep of Temple Friday afternoon on the road. The two wins complete the four-game series sweep of the Leopards and improve the Highlanders' record to 44-7 overall and 25-3 in North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference play.
The Highlanders defeated the Leopards 11-9 in game one with Kyrell Miller getting the win on the mound and Palmer Wenzel getting the save.
McLennan scored four runs in the top of the first to take the early lead. Joe Breaux and Nic Motley both singled. Josh Breaux followed with a sacrifice fly to score older brother Joe, and Motley scored on a wild pitch. Brendan Venter singled and Cole Haring reached first safely on an error to load the bases. Brock Morrison followed with a single to score Venter. Jackson Nichols also reached first on an error, allowing Haring to score.
The Highlanders added a run in the second as Joe Breaux singled, stole second and came around to score on another Temple error.
McLennan extended its lead to nine with four runs in the third. Mario Vela drew a walk and George Callil singled. Motley and Josh Breaux followed with back-to-back home runs.
Temple got on the board with three runs in the bottom of the third. Jacob Little and Jacob Alexander both singled, and Jacob Stegent walked to load the bases. Taylor Bright followed with a single to score Little and Alexander. Stegent then scored on a single by Blake Jones.
Another Highlander run scored in the fifth. Joe Breaux walked but was out at second on a fielder's choice by Motley. Motley then moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Venter.
The Leopards trimmed the Highlander lead to three with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Bright walked and scored on a triple by Michael Davila. Coby Potvin followed with a single to score Davila, and pinch hitter Ty Condel doubled to score Potvin. Preston Macik then singled to score Condel.
The final McLennan run came in the top of the sixth as Morrison singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a ground out by Vela and came in to score on a single by Callil.
Temple rounded out the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Condel singled, and Little and Alexander both walked to load the bases. Stegent followed with a single to score Condel and Little.
Jason Blanchard picked up the 13-5 win on the mound for the Highlanders in game two.
McLennan scored one run in the bottom the first as Motley singled and scored on a single by Venter.
The Highlanders added a run in the second as Haring singled and scored on a double by Nick Thornquist.
Temple took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the second. Baylor Rowlett hit a solo home run. Jaylon Brooks and Davila both walked. Joey Orsak then singled to score Brooks.
McLennan tied the game with a run in the fifth as Motley was hit by the pitch and scored on a Venter double.
The Highlanders exploded for seven runs in the sixth inning. Thornquist singled, Callil walked and Joe Breaux was safe on an error, loading the bases. Motley followed with a double to score Thornquist and Callil. Josh Breaux doubled to scored Joe Breaux and Motley. Griffin Paxton was safe on another Temple error, bringing Josh Breaux in to score. Haring followed with a double to score Paxton. Haring then moved to third on yet another error and scored on a balk.
Two more McLennan runs crossed the plate in the eighth. Josh Breaux doubled, moved to third on a ground out by Paxton and scored on a single by Haring. Chase Sortor and Thornquist both walked to load the bases. Haring then scored on a wild pitch.
Temple also scored two in the bottom of the eighth. Rowlett singled and was replaced by pinch-runner Adam Peterson. Peterson moved to second on a wild pitch and Brooks walked. Both runners advanced on a balk. Peterson scored on a sacrifice fly by Davila, and Brooks scored on a sacrifice fly by Orsak.
The Highlanders' final run came in the top of the ninth. Joe Breaux was hit by the pitch and Motley walked. Josh Breaux then singled to score Joe Breaux.
The Highlanders will host Cisco Wednesday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
McLennan 11, Temple 9
McLennan 414 011 0 – 11 13 1
Temple 003 040 2 – 9 16 3
Jase Embry, Brady Childress (3), Kyrell Miller (5), Palmer Wenzel, (7) and Josh Breaux. Mason Furlong, Jared Zumwalt (3), Dustin Tish (5) Trent Stafford (6), Nick Clawson (7) and Taylor Bright. WP: Miller; LP: Furlong; SV: Wenzel. Leading hitters – McLennan: Nic Motley (2-5, HR, 3 RBI), Josh Breaux (2-4, HR, 2 RBI), Brendan Venter (2-4, RBI), Brock Morrison (2-5, RBI) and George Callil (2-4, RBI); Temple: Coby Potvin (2-5, RBI), Preston Macik (2-5, RBI), Jacob Little (3-4), Jacob Alexander (2-4), Jacob Stegent (1-4, 2 RBI), Taylor Bright (2-2, 2 RBI), Blake Jones (1-2, RBI), Michael Davila (1-4, 3B, RBI) and Ty Condel (22, 2B, RBI). Record: McLennan 43-7 (24-3).
McLennan 13, Temple 5
McLennan 110 017 021 – 13 15 0
Temple 030 000 020 – 5 8 3
Jason Blanchard, Hunter Spaeth (6), Connor Heffron (7), Coleman Beazley (8) and Nick Thornquist. Cody Wolf, Taylor Barksdale (6), Ryan Keesee (6), Caleb Nicholson (8), Jacob Little (9) and Baylor Rowlett. WP: Blanchard; LP: Barksdale. Leading hitters – McLennan: Nic Motley (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Josh Breaux (4-6, 2 2B, 3 RBI), Brendan Venter (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Cole Haring (36, 2B, 2 RBI) and Nick Thornquist (3-3, 2 2B, RBI); Temple: Jacob Stegent (1-3, RBI), Baylor Rowlett (3-4, 2B, HR, RBI), Michael Davila (0-1, RBI) and Joey Orsak (2-2, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 44-7 (25-3).
