The McLennan Highlanders completed the four-game sweep of the Ranger Rangers with two wins on the road in Ranger.
The Highlanders defeated the Rangers 5-2 in game one with Reece Calvert getting the complete-game victory on the mound.
McLennan began the scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Joe Breaux was safe at first on an error and moved to second on the walk of Brendan Venter. Breaux then came around to score on another Ranger error.
The Highlanders added two runs in the third. Tucker Johnson and Dimas Ojeda both singled. Johnson scored on a sacrifice fly by Cory Voss. Ojeda then scored on a single by Noah McGowan.
Ranger's two runs came in the bottom of the third. Carter Gwynne was hit by the pitch and Ryan Dufrene was safe at first on a Highlander error. Both runners advanced on a passed ball. A balk brought Gwynne in to score. Dufrene then scored on a sacrifice fly by JoJo Valencia.
McLennan added a run in the sixth as Voss singled, moved to second on a sacrifice by McGowan and scored on a Ranger error.
The Highlanders' final run came in the top of the seventh as Ojeda doubled and scored on a single by Venter.
It was all McLennan in the nightcap as the Highlanders run-ruled the Rangers 10-0 in seven innings with Chris Glover getting the win on the mound.
The Highlanders scored one run in the second as McGowan was safe on an error, moved to third on a double by James Rudkin and scored on a ground out by Nic Motley.
McLennan exploded for nine runs in the fifth. Motley and Breaux both singled. Motley came in to score on a Ranger error that put Johnson on first. Voss drew a walk, loading the bases. Venter was hit by the pitch, bringing Breaux in to score. McGowan singled to score Johnson; then Rudkin doubled, scoring Venter. Mario Vela followed with a double to score McGowan and Rudkin. Motley was safe at first and moved to second on another Ranger error. Breaux singled to score Vela. Motley then scored on a sacrifice fly by Johnson.
"Sweeps are rare in our league, so completing the four-game sweep of Ranger was really big and is something that will help propel us and put us back in the conference race for the championship," head coach Mitch Thompson said.
"I'm very proud of the pitchers this week. We had three complete games and only needed two innings of relief in the entire four-game series, and those two innings were outstanding. Overall I have to be very pleased with the four-game series against Ranger. The wind was blowing in pretty strong and made it a very difficult day to hit, but our guys battled through and made the plays on defense, so they were good wins."
McLennan 5, Ranger 2
McLennan 102 001 1 – 5 8 1
Ranger 002 000 0 – 2 5 3
Reece Calvert and Cory Voss. Grant Page, Oscar Noguera (6), Gavin Alverez (7), Lukas Holub (7) and Bryan Benz. WP: Calvert; LP: Page. Leading hitters – McLennan: Dimas Ojeda (2-4, 2B), Brendan Venter (1-3, RBI), Cory Voss (2-3, RBI) and Noah McGowan (1-3, RBI); Ranger: Emilio Martinez (1-3, 2B), JoJo Valencia (0-2 RBI) and Bryan Benz (2-3). Record: McLennan 27-8 (10-5).
McLennan 10, Ranger 0
McLennan 010 090 0 – 10 11 0
Ranger 000 000 0 – 0 6 3
Chris Glover, Mark Doerries (6), Hunter Spaeth (7) and Nic Motley. Chris Logan, Oscar Noguera (5), Nolan Ellis (7), Jonathan Kastens (7) and Bryan Benz. WP: Glover; LP: Logan. Leading hitters – McLennan: Joe Breaux (2-4, RBI), Tucker Johnson (1-4, RBI), Brendan Venter (0-3, RBI), Noah McGowan (1-4, 2 RBI), James Rudkin (2-4, 2 2B, RBI), Mario Vela (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Nic Motley (1-4, RBI); Ranger: Emilio Martinez (2-3) and Cameron Boudreaux (1-3, 2B). Record: McLennan 28-8 (11-5).
