No. 5 McLennan Softball dropped both games of today's doubleheader at No. 4 Temple.
Temple defeated McLennan 2-1 in nine innings of the opener. Olivia Garrett went the distance in the circle for McLennan to take the loss.
The Highlanders scored their only run in the second inning as Rylie Marquart tripled and scored on a single by Karaline Smitherman.
The Leopards tied the game with a run in the bottom of the third. Marli Kennedy reached safely and advanced all the way to third on an error. Brooklyn Walton followed with the sacrifice bunt to score Kennedy.
Temple sealed the win with a run in the bottom of the ninth. Reese Cottrell reached on an error and was replaced by pinch runner Jess Reyes. Izzy Garcia singled and was replaced by pinch runner Maycee Griffin. Angel DeLeon singled to load the bases, and a sacrifice fly by Ryley Litchfield scored Reyes to end the game.
In the series finale, the Leopards defeated the Highlanders 5-3. Natalie Klenda took the loss.
Temple took the lead early with two runs in the bottom of the first. Jasmine Benavidez and Cottrell both singled. Kaiyah Ratu followed with a single to score Benavidez. Garcia hit into a fielder's choice, putting Cottrell out at third, and Litchfield singled to score Ratu.
The Leopards added three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Litchfield led off with a single and Starks reached on an error. Kennedy also singled, loading the bases. Lexi Dudeczka then doubled to score all three runners.
McLennan got on the board with three runs in the fifth. Delanie Roedre and Smitherman both walked. Chaney Allen singled to load the bases. Jordan Tosch came in as a pinch runner for Smitherman. Roeder scored on a sacrifice fly by Macie Jansky, and Kaelani Rogers doubled to score Allen and Tosch.
No. 4 Temple 2, No. 5 McLennan 1
McLennan 010 000 000 – 1 7 2
Temple 001 000 001 – 2 5 0
Olivia Garrett and Traci Lowry. Kat Kram, Reese Cottrell (3) and Kaiyah Ratu. WP: Cottrell; LP: Garrett. Leading hitters – McLennan: Traci Lowry (2-4), Kaelani Rogers (2-4, 2B), Rylie Marquart (1-3, 3B) and Karaline Smitherman (1-4, RBI); Temple: Ryley Litchfield (0-3, RBI) and Brooklyn Walton (1-2, RBI). Record: McLennan 36-9 (20-3).
No. 4 Temple 5, No. 5 McLennan 3
McLennan 000 030 0 – 3 7 3
Temple 200 300 x -- 5 11 0
Natalie Klenda, Allyson Schauer (4) and Macie Jansky. Izzy Garcia and Ryley Litchfield. WP: Garcia; LP: Klenda. Leading hitters – McLennan: Macie Jansky (0-3, RBI), Kaelani Rogers (1-2, 2B, 2 RBI), Rylie Marquart (2-3) and Delanie Roeder (1-2, 2B); Temple: Lexi Dudeczka (2-4, 2B, 3 RBI) and Kaiyah Ratu (1-3, RBI). McLennan 36-10 (20-4.
