The McLennan Highlanders swept the New Mexico Thunderbirds with a pair of run-rule wins this afternoon at Bosque River Ballpark.
McLennan defeated New Mexico 12-0 in six innings of the opener with Tanner Brooks getting the win on the mound.
The Highlanders scored a run in the bottom of the first as Jalen Battles tripled and scored on a wild pitch.
McLennan added a run in the second as Jaylen Williams singled, moved to second on a balk, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Battles.
Two more McLennan runs scored in the fourth. Williams walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Alex Lopez and advanced to third on a ground out by Morrow. Battles drew a walk and both runners scored on a triple by Jimmy Crooks.
The Highlanders sealed the win with eight runs in the sixth inning. Williams walked, Lopez singled and Morrow walked, loading the bases. Battles followed with a single to score Williams and Lopez. Crooks walked, and Balgaard singled to score Morrow and Battles. Garrett Martin walked to load the bases, and Brett Squires followed with a walk-off grand slam.
McLennan topped New Mexico 12-2 in the nightcap with Mason Hilton picking up the win.
The Highlanders scored three runs in the second. Miguel Santos doubled and Williams was safe on a Thunderbird error. Ryan Neitsch followed with a three-run homer.
New Mexico got on the board with a run in the third as Adrian Torres walked, stole second and scored on a single by Carlos Contreras.
McLennan added three runs in the third. Crooks and Balgaard both singled, and Garrett Martin followed with the three-run homer.
The Thunderbirds' final run came in the fourth as Ollie Thompson tripled and scored on a ground out by Angel Presinal.
A Highlander run scored in the bottom of the fourth as Neitsch tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Heath Pickhardt.
Five McLennan runs in the fifth sealed the run rule. Martin walked, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on double by Williams. Neitsch was hit by the pitch and Pickhardt walked, loading the bases. Williams scored on a wild pitch, and Battles followed with a walk-off three-run homer.
McLennan returns to action Monday, traveling to Huntsville to face Galveston in a 2 p.m. game at Sam Houston State University.
McLennan 12, New Mexico 0
New Mexico 000 000 – 0 3 0
McLennan 110 208 – 12 9 1
Jairo Vasquez, Angel Hernandez (6), Bobby Cliché (6) and Angel Anrades, E.J Rendon. Tanner Brooks, Daniel Cole (4) and Jimmy Crooks WP: Brooks; LP: Vasquez. Leading hitters – New Mexico: Zac Vooletich (2-3); McLennan: Jalen Battles (3-3, 3B, 3 RBI), Jimmy Crooks (1-3, 3B, 2 RBI), Caleb Balgaard (1-4, 2 RBI) and Brett Squires (1-4, HR, 4 RBI). Record: McLennan 11-4.
McLennan 12, New Mexico 2
New Mexico 001 10 – 1 3 0
McLennan 033 15 – 12 10 2
Pablo Suarez, Daelen Caraway (5) and Angel Anrades. Mason Hilton, Kevin Skweres (4) and Heath Pickhardt. WP: Hilton; LP: Suarez. Leading hitters – New Mexico: Ben Malgeri (1-3, 2B), Ollie Thompson (1-3, 3B) and Angel Presinal (0-3, RBI); McLennan: Jalen Battles (2-4, HR, 3 RBI), Caleb Balgaard (2-3), Garrett Martin (1-2, HR, 3 RBI), Miguel Santos (1-3, 2B), Jaylen Williams (1-3, 2B, RBI), Ryan Neitsch (2-2, 3B, HR, 3 RBI) and Heath Pickhardt (0-1, RBI). Record: McLennan 12-4.
