The #1 McLennan Highlanders opened conference play with a doubleheader sweep of the Weatherford Coyotes today in Weatherford.
It took an extra inning for the Highlanders to defeat the Coyotes 9-7 in the opener. Taryn Batterton picked up the win in the circle, and Makenzi Jenkins got the save.
McLennan scored three runs in the top of the first inning. Taylor Meier walked, stole second and scored on a double by Trinity Allen. Katia Reyes followed with a two-run homer.
Weatherford got on the board with a run in the bottom of the inning. Alexah Reyes reached on an error and advanced to second on a ground out by Isabella Alosi. Lilly Bean then singled to score Reyes.
The Highlanders added a run in the fourth as Madison Garcia singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Mickayla Tosch.
The Coyotes tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jillian Franco walked and Texas Ray singled. Presley Humphry followed with the three-run homer.
McLennan took the lead again with two runs in the fifth. Kyla Heine led off with a single and scored on another Reyes homer.
Another Highlander run scored in the sixth. Allen doubled and Heine singled. Reyes then singled to score Allen.
Weatherford tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Emma Thomson walked and was replaced by pinch runner Breklyn Daniell. Kylee Lansbury also walked. Daniell was out at third on a fielder's choice by Reyes. Both runners advanced on a ground out by Alosi. Bean then singled to score Lansbury and Reyes, and Franco tripled to score Bean.
McLennan scored two in the top of the eighth to seal the win. Heine doubled and Reyes walked. Madison Hornback then doubled to score both runners.
In game two, the Highlanders defeated the Coyotes 16-10 with Jenkins getting the win in the circle.
Weatherford took the early lead with two runs in the bottom of the first. Reyes singled and stole second, and Alosi also singled. Both runners scored on a single by Bean.
McLennan took the lead with three runs in the top of the second. Reyes doubled and Hornback walked. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, and Lilly Rocha reached on an error, scoring both runners. Rocha then scored on a sacrifice bunt by Maddie Moore.
The Coyotes regain the lead with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Humphry singled and was replaced by pinch runner Abigail Holder. Thomson was hit by the pitch and Lansbury walked, loading the bases. Holder was out at the plate on a fielder's choice by Reyes. Thomson scored on a fielder's choice that put Reyes out at second. Bean walked to reload the bases. Franco then singled to score Lansbury and Alosi.
The Highlanders exploded for six runs in the third. Tosch led off with a double and Allen singled. Everyone was safe on a fielder's choice by Heine, loading the bases. Reyes doubled, scoring all three runners. Chesnee Faile then singled to score Reyes. Rocha reached on another error, scoring Rocha and Reyes.
McLennan scored two more in the fourth as Allen double and scored on another Reyes home run, her third of the day.
Another Highlander run scored in the top of the fifth. Meier walked and stole second. Heine then singled to score Meier.
Weatherford narrowed the lead with five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Ray and Sadie Reid both singled Ava McCracken came in as a pinch runner for Ray, and scored on a fielder's choice by Thomson. Hanna Bartels singled, and Reyes singled to score Reid. A sacrifice fly by Alsoi brought Thomson in to score. Bean then doubled to score Bartels and Reyes.
McLennan tacked on four runs in the top of the seventh. Allen doubled and scored on a single by Heine. Reyes walked and Hornback singled. Faile then singled to score Reyes, and Rocha singled to score Hornback and Faile.
McLennan 9, Weatherford 7
McLennan 300 121 02 – 9 15 1
Weatherford 100 300 30 – 7 9 0
Taryn Batterton, Makenzi Jenkins (8) and Chesnee Faile. Lindsey Oliver, Caydin Blackmon (2) and Lilly Bean. WP: Batterton; LP: Blackmon; SV: Jenkins. Leading hitters – McLennan: Mickayla Tosch (1-5, RBI), Trinity Allen (2-4, 2B, RBI), Kyla Heine (3-5, 2B), Katia Reyes, (3-3, 2 HR, 5 RBI), Madison Hornback (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI), and Taylor Meier (1-3, 2B); Weatherford: Lilly Bean (3-4, 3 RBI), Jillian Franco (1-3, 3B, RBI) and Presley Humphry (1-4, HR, 3 RBI). Record: McLennan 23-0 (1-0).
McLennan , Weatherford
McLennan 036 210 4 – 16 19 0
Weatherford 230 050 0 – 10 11 4
Brinly Maples, Makenzi Jenkins (2) and Chesnee Faile. Isabella Alosi, Lindsey Oliver (4), McKayla Fish (6) and Lilly Bean. WP: Jenkins; LP: Alosi. Leading hitters – McLennan: Mickayla Tosch (2-5, 2 2B), Trinity Allen (3-5, 2 2B), Kyla Heine (2-5, 2 RBI), Katia Reyes (3-3, 2 2B, HR, 5 RBI), Chesnee Faile (2-5, 2 RBI), Lilly Rocha (2-4, 2 RBI) and Maddie Moore (1-3, 2B, RBI); Weatherford: Alexah Reyes (2-5, RBI), Lilly Bean (3-3, 2 2B, 4 RBI), Jillian Franco (1-4, 2 RBI) and Emma Thomson (0-3, RBI). Record: McLennan 24-0 (2-0).
