The McLennan Highlanders closed out their stint at the San Jacinto Tournament of Champions late Saturday night with a doubleheader split.
McLennan fell to the host San Jacinto Gators by one run, 6-5, with Alex DeLeon taking the loss on the mound.
The Highlanders took the early lead, scoring two runs in the top of the second inning. Thomas Santos led off with a single and moved to second on a passed ball. Brett Squires drew a walk, and Garrett Martin singled to score Santos. Squires then scored on a wild pitch.
San Jacinto took the lead with four runs in the bottom of the second. Ryan Hernandez led off with a single but was out at second on a fielder's choice by Andrew Papantonis. Braden Wingate and Chase Wilkerson both singled, bringing Papantonis in to score. R.J. Ochoa followed with a triple to score Wingate and Wilkerson. Adisyn Coffey then singled to score Ochoa.
The Gators added two runs in the third as Hernandez reached on a McLennan error and scored on Papantonis' home run.
McLennan added two runs in the fourth. Ryan Neitsch singled, moved to second on a San Jacinto error and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Jalen Battles and Cole Moore both walked to load the bases. Santos then singled to score Neitsch and Battles.
The final Highlander run came in the top of the eighth as Battles walked, moved around to third on a pair of passed balls and scored on a ground out by Moore.
McLennan bounced back into the win column with a 5-0 shutout over Laredo. Tanner Brooks picked up the win on the mound.
The Highlanders scored three runs in the fourth inning. Santos and Brooks Embry both walked. Neitsch singled to score Santos, and Embry stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Vince Ippoliti.
McLennan added a run in the sixth as Embry singled, moved around to third on a pair of passed balls and scored on a single by Spencer Wionzek.
The final run of the day came in the eighth as Embry doubled and scored on a double by Neitsch.
McLennan faces Navarro in a three-game series this weekend The Highlanders and Bulldogs will play a single game at 2 p.m. Friday in Corsicana, followed by a noon doubleheader Saturday at Bosque River Ballpark.
San Jacinto 6, McLennan 5
McLennan 020 200 010 – 5 9 2
San Jacinto 042 000 00x – 6 9 1
Alex DeLeon, Max Mize (5), Grant Miller (8) and Ryan Bishop. Dane Acker, Evan Hiatt (5), Bryant Salgado (8) and R.J. Ochoa. WP: Acker; LP: DeLeon; SV: Salgado. Leading hitters – Cole Moore (2-4, 2B, RBI), Thomas Santos (2-5, 2 RBI), Garrett Martin (1-2, RBI) and Ryan Neitsch (2-4); San Jacinto: Ryan Hernandez (2-4, 2B), Andrew Papantonis (2-4, HR, 2 RBI), Chase Wilkerson (1-4, RBI), R.J Ochoa (2-3, 3B, 2 RBI), Adisyn Coffey (1-2, RBI). Record: McLennan 6-4.
McLennan 5, Laredo 0
McLennan 000 301 010 – 5 10 0
Laredo 000 000 000 – 0 1 1
Tanner Brooks, Brett Williams (6), Rene Ramos (8), Payton Strambler (9) and Vince Ippoliti. Adrian Ramirez, Jesus Paez (8) and Jerry Sepulveda. WP: Brooks; LP: Ramirez. Leading hitters – McLennan: Jalen Battles (1-4, RBI), Thomas Santos (1-4, 2B), Brooks Embry (2-4, 2B), Ryan Neitsch (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Vince Ippoliti (1-1, RBI) and Spencer Wionzek (1-2, RBI). Record: McLennan 7-4.
