The McLennan Highlanders and top-ranked Weatherford Coyotes split their conference doubleheader at Bosque River Ballpark.
McLennan defeated Weatherford 8-5 in game one with Dustin Jourdan picking up the win and Zach Kornely getting the save. Kirby McGuire went 3-4 at the plate and hit a double. James Rudkin and Brandon Grudzielanek both recorded a hit and an RBI. Tucker Johnson went 2-2 with a double and an RBI. Noah McGowan hit a triple and picked up three RBIs, and Braxton Wilks recorded an RBI.
The Coyotes defeated the Highlanders 13-6 in the nightcap with Reece Calvert taking the loss. Braxton Hollenshead was 2-4 with a double. Will Fox recorded a double and an RBI. McGuire went 2-4 and picked up two RBIs, while Rudkin went 2-3. Grudzielanek, McGowan and Johnson all picked up an RBI.
"I am disappointed with the way we played today. I think we missed a very good opportunity to win two games," coach Mitch Thompson said. "I don't feel that we played really well in any aspect of the game and yet we still came out with a split of the doubleheader.
"Doubleheaders are tough. It is very difficult to play with good focus for six hours. We simply had too many lapses in focus, especially in the second game.
"You have to give Weatherford credit for coming back and winning the nightcap."
McLennan 8, Weatherford 5
Weatherford 001 301 0 – 5 12 0
McLennan 023 300 x – 8 9 2
Tyler Wesley, Trevor Eulenbach (4) and Valente Canada. Collin Sharp, Dustin Jourdan (4), Zach Kornely (7) and Mason George. WP: Jourdan; LP: Wesley; SV: Kornely. Leading hitters – Weatherford: Sam Mahofski (1-2, 2B RBI), Chace Sarchedt (2-4, 3B, 2 RBI), Colton Turner (2-4, 2 RBI) and Zac Michener (3-4, 2B); McLennan: Kirby McGuire (3-4, 2B), James Rudkin (1-3, RBI), Brandon Grudzielanek (1-3, RBI), Tucker Johnson (2-2, 2B, RBI), Braxton Wilks (1-1, RBI) and Noah McGowan (1-2, 3B, 3 RBI). Record: McLennan 20-13 (9-8).
Weatherford 13, McLennan 6
Weatherford 301 112 050 – 13 11 1
McLennan 310 001 100 – 6 10 3
Andrew Hendel, Joseph Heineman and Corey Murray. Reece Calvert, Corey Watkins (5), Daniel Bullard (6), Jako Kelm (8), Jerry Murillo (8), Cole Ridgley (9) and Jon Tauzin. WP: Jendel; LP: Calvert; SV: Heineman. Leading hitters – Weatherford: Quinton Rohrbaugh (2-4, RBI), Chace Sarchet (1-6, 2B, RBI), Colton Turner (1-6, RBI)Zac Michener (1-2, 3B, 2 RBI), Valente Canada (3-3, 2B, RBI), Corey Murray (0-3, 2 RBI) and Daniel Williams (1-4, Hr, 3 RBI); McLennan: Braxton Hollenshead (2-4, 2B), Will Fox (2-5, 2B, RBI), Kirby McGuire (2-4, 2 RBI), James Rudkin (2-3), Brandon Grudzielanek (0-4, RBI), Tucker Johnson (1-3, RBI) and Noah McGowan (0-3, RBI). Record: McLennan 20-14 (9-9).
