Highlanders topple Temple & set school record for wins in a season

The McLennan Highlanders are headed to the semifinals of the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series in Oxford, Alabama following a 4-3 walk-off victory over the Temple Leopards. Taryn Batterton picked up the win in relief of starter Katia Reyes.
 
The win improves the Highlanders overall record to 60-2, setting a new school record for wins in a season.
 
Temple took the early lead with two runs in the first inning. Alyssa Budisalovich singled and scored on a triple by Kennan Nunamaker. Nunamaker then scored on an error.
 
The Leopards added a run in the third inning. Bre Jackson and Budisalovich both singled. Adelyn Becerra walked, loading the bases. Nunamaker then singled to score Jackson.
 
McLennan' s first run came in the bottom of the fourth as Mickayla Tosch reached on an error and scored on a triple by Ellie Loveless.
 
The Highlanders tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Madison Hornback walked and advanced on a ground out by Chesnee Faile. Tosch singled and Loveless reached on a fielder's choice, loading the bases. Taylor Meier singled to score Hornback, and Tosch scored on a sacrifice fly by Madison Garcia.
 
McLennan scored the walk-off run in the bottom of the seventh. Kyla Heine walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Reyes, and moved to third on a fly out by Hornback. Faile and Tosch both walked, loading the bases. Loveless followed with a single to score Heine, ending the game.
 
McLennan 4, Temple 3
Temple 201 000 0 – 3 5 2
McLennan 000 102 1 – 4 9 3
Haley Crawford, Audrie Sayas (6) and Adelyn Becerra. Katia Reyes, Taryn Batterton (5) and Kyla Heine. WP: Batterton; LP: Crawford. Leading hitters – Temple: Alyssa Budisalovich (2-4) and Kennan Nunamaker (2-3, 3B, 2 RBI); McLennan: Taylor Meier (3-4, RBI), Madison Garcia (1-3, RBI) and Ellie Loveless (2-4, 3B, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 60-2 (31-1).