The McLennan Highlanders swept the Cisco Wranglers in Thursday's conference doubleheader at Bosque River Ballpark.
Jack Finnegan picked up the 6-2 win for the Highlanders in the first game, pitching a complete game.
Both of Cisco's runs came in the top of the first inning as Wes Phillips tripled and came in to score on Michael Hungate's home run.
McLennan took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Will Fox and Tucker Johnson drew back-to-back walks. James Rudkin followed with a single to score Fox. Johnson and Rudkin both scored on a pair of Cisco errors.
The Highlanders rounded out the scoring with three runs in the fifth. Brandon Grudzielanek hit a solo home run. Braxton Wilks then singled and scored on Noah McGowan's home run.
McLennan defeated Cisco 6-3 in the nightcap with Reece Calvert picking up the win and Dustin Jourdan getting the save.
The Wranglers scored one run in the top of the first as Hungate singled, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a single by Zach Rheams.
The Highlanders took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the first. Fox singled and Grudzielanek was safe at first on a error that advanced Fox around to third. Fox came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Dimas Ojeda. Grudzielanek then scored on a sacrifice fly by McGuire.
McLennan added one run in the second as Jon Tauzin doubled and scored on a single by Fox.
The Highlanders increased the lead with one run in the third as McGuire singled, advanced around to third on an error and scored on a wild pitch.
Cisco scored two runs in the fifth. Mason Baker drew a walk and Dally Burney doubled. Baker came in to score on a Highlander error and Burney scored on a single by Orlando Collazo.
McLennan added one run in the sixth as McGowan doubled and scored on a single by Tauzin.
The Highlanders rounded out the scoring with a run in the seventh as Grudzielanek singled, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice bunt by McGuire.
"We just beat a team that was ranked in the top 10 in the country," coach Thompson said. "They came into the game today with a 23-3 record, so sweeping them is a really big deal."
"It all starts on the mound. Finnegan was outstanding today. He threw all of his pitches for strikes and had a really good slider going to finish hitters off. I am especially proud of him for competing so well and executing one pitch at a time. I was a little worried when we were down 2-0 after the first three hitters of the game, but that is all he gave them. Calvert was equally as effective in game two and gave us seven strong innings. Jourdan came with two strong innings of relief to get the save."
"We also played very solid on the defensive side of the ball and made virtually every routine play," Thompson said. "The challenge will be to do it again at Cisco."
McLennan 6, Cisco 2
Cisco 200 000 0 – 2 5 2
McLennan 003 030 x – 6 8 0
Alex Daniele, Chris Falwell (1), Casey Sullivan (3) and Noah Lee. Jack Finnegan and Mason George. WP: Finnegan; LP: Falwell. Leading hitters – Cisco: Wes Phillips (1-3, 3B) and Michael Hungate (1-2, HR, 2 RBI); McLennan: James Rudkin (1-4, RBI), Brandon Grudzielanek (2-3, HR, RBI) and Noah McGowan (2-3, HR, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 13-8 (2-3).
McLennan 6, Cisco 3
Cisco 100 020 000 – 3 6 4
McLennan 211 001 10x – 6 9 1
Robert Dugger, Marshall Herron (7), Korey Rasure (8) and
Reece Calvert, Dustin Jourdan (8) and Jon Tauzin. WP: Calvert; LP: Dugger: Save: Jourdan. Leading hitters – Cisco: Orlando Collazo (1-4, RBI), Wes Phillips (1-4, 2B), Zach Rheams (1-4, RBI) and Dally Burney (1-3, 2B); McLennan: Will Fox (3-5, RBI), Dimas Ojeda (0-3, RBI), Kirby McGuire (1-2, 2 RBI), Noah McGowan (1-3, 2B) and Jon Tauzin (2-3, 2B, RBI). Record: McLennan 14-8 (3-3).
