The McLennan Highlanders and Hill Rebels split their midweek doubleheader.
Hill took game one 10-5 on Wednesday with Dustin Jourdan taking the loss on the mound.
The Rebels scored two runs in the bottom of the first. Omar Salinas singled and Cameron Warner drew a walk. Both runners scored on a pair of McLennan errors.
Hill added two runs in the second. Tommy Nawa singled and Philip Ingram both singled and advanced on another Highlander error. Nawa came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Greg Greene. Salinas then singled to score Ingram.
The Rebels increased the lead to five with a run in the third as Ben Hollas doubled and scored on a double by Caleb Dean.
McLennan got on the board with run in the top of the fourth as Kirby McGuire bunted and scored on double by Dimas Ojeda.
The Highlanders tied the game with four runs in the sixth. Will Fox walked and McGuire doubled. Fox came in to score on a Hill error. Ojeda followed with a fielder's choice, bringing McGuire in to score. Brandon Grudzielanek followed with a home run to clear the bases.
Hills sealed the win with five runs in the bottom of the sixth. Nawa was hit by the pitch and Ingram doubled. Greene drew a walk to load the bases. Nawa scored on a sacrifice fly by Salinas. Cameron Warner then singled to score Ingram. Dylan Lemons followed with a three-run homer.
The second game was suspended due to lightning in the seventh inning with McLennan leading 9-5. The teams completed the game on Thursday afternoon, with the Highlanders getting the 9-7 victory.
The Rebels scored one run in the bottom of the first as Warner singled and scored on a single by Lemons.
The Highlanders took the lead with three runs in the top of the second. James Rudkin singled and Grudzielanek doubled. Tucker Johnson followed with a double, bringing Rudkin and Grudzielanek in to score. Noah McGowan then singled to score Johnson.
Hill added one run in the second as Dean singled, stole second and third, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Nawa.
McLennan added two runs in the third as McGuire walked and scored on Grudzielanek's home run.
The Rebels scored one run in the third as Warner doubled and scored on a single by Ben Hollas.
McLennan scored two runs in the fourth. Mason George singled. Sydney Daley and Braxton Hollenshead both bunted to load the bases. George scored on a sacrifice fly by Fox. McGuire then singled to score Daley.
The Highlanders extended the lead with a run in the sixth as Daley singled, moved to third on Hollenshead's double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Fox.
McLennan's final run came in the seventh. Grudzielanek singled and Johnson drew a walk. McGowan followed with a fielder's choice that put Grudzielanek out at third. George was hit by the pitch to load the bases. Johnson then scored on a fielder's choice by Daley.
Hill rounded out the scoring with two runs in the eighth. Nawa walked and Ingram singled. Both runners scored on a double by Greene.
"I am really happy with our guys and the battle they have shown over the last several weeks," coach Mitch Thompson said. "We have won 11 of our last 14 games and have overcome some serious injuries and mental hurdles along the way.
"This week has been extremely challenging to us with the schedule changes. This causes considerable challenges to a pitching staff as guys have to bounce back on short rest, and sometimes we are forced to use guys in roles that they haven't been in all year.
"Today's completion of the suspended game threw one of those challenges. In essence, we have played on the road three of the last four days in some games that are very important to the final success of our program. The guys have responded very well in every situation and really battled not only the weather and some transportation issues, but also the opponent.
"Days like these test mental toughness, and our guys have really won that battle. I am very proud to have won three of the four games on the road this week. We have not played perfect baseball, but our guys have always played with great effort.
"As we advance toward a possible post-season berth, I am starting to see this team come together and show that we can be a true force to reckon with. We have six conference games remaining, and our guys are focused on winning each and every one of them. We want to be on a serious roll as we head into postseason play!"
Hill 10, McLennan 5
McLennan 000 104 0 – 5 6 3
Hill 221 005 x – 10 9 2
Reece Calvert, Dustin Jourdan (6) and Jon Tauzin. Nate Harris, Drew Grimes (6) and Tommy Nawa. WP: Grimes; LP: Jourdan. Leading hitters – McLennan: Kirby McGuire (2-4, 2B), Dimas Ojeda (1-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Brandon Grudzielanek (1-3, HR, 2 RBI) and Tucker Johnson (2-3); Hill: Greg Greene (0-2, RBI), Omar Salinas (2-3, 2 RBI), Cameron Warner (1-2, RBI), Dylan Lemons (1-4, HR, 3 RBI), Ben Hollas (1-2, 2B), Caleb Dean (1-3, 2B, RBI) and Philip Ingram (2-3, 2B). Record: McLennan 26-16 (14-11)
McLennan 9, Hill 7
McLennan 032 201 100 – 9 13 1
Hill 111 020 020 – 7 10 0
Jack Finnegan, Corey Watkins (6), Zach Kornely (7) and Mason George. Pedro Mercado, Christian Bambrook (3), Tyler Gant (50, Cameron Linck (7), Kyle Loson (8) and Tommy Nawa. WP: Finnegan; LP: Mercado; SV: Kornely. Leading hitters – McLennan: Braxton Hollenshead (2-4, 2B), Will Fox (0-3, 2 RBI), Kirby McGuire (2-4, RBI), Brandon Grudzielanek (2-5, 2B, RBI), Tucker Johnson (2-3, 2B, HR, 3 RBI), Noah McGowan (1-5, RBI) and Sydney Daley (2-5 RBI); Hill: Greg Greene (1-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Cameron Warner (2-5, 2B), Dylan Lemons (2-4, HR, 3 RBI), Ben Hollas (1-5, RBI) and Tommy Nawa (0-0, RBI). Record: McLennan 27-16 (15-11).
