The McLennan Highlanders and Hill Rebels split their midweek conference doubleheader in Hillsboro.
Hill defeated McLennan 21-13 in game one with Paul Kirkpatrick taking the loss on the mound. Tucker Johnson led the Highlanders at the plate, going 2-5 with a double, a home run and four RBIs. Joe Breaux went 2-4 with a double and an RBI, while Dimas Ojeda went 3-5 with a home run. Brendan Venter had a home run and three RBIs while Noah McGowan picked up three RBIs on two hits. Mario Vela recorded a hit and an RBI.
The Highlanders bounced back to defeat the Rebels 21-19 in game two with Justin Garcia getting the win on the circle. Venter and Griffin Williams drove in five runs each. Venter recorded a double and a home run while Williams hit two home runs. McGowan was 3-4 with two home runs and four RBIs. Johnson was 3-7 with a home run and two RBIs. Dimas Ojeda went 3-6 with a double and Cory Voss went 5-7 with a double and an RBI. James Rudkin hit a double and a home run while picking up two RBIs. Breaux went 3-4 with two doubles and Creighton Eldridge was 2-4 with a solo home run.
"The comeback was a really big win for us to split the series at Hill. It was a tough day. Offensively it was an unbelievable day to hit but really tough to play defense and to pitch, and we struggled," head coach Mitch Thompson said.
"To win the second game after it's been suspended for darkness and have Garcia and Williams step up really gives us the momentum going into Saturday's doubleheader at Bosque River Ballpark."
"I couldn't be prouder for our guys in battling and continuing to persevere. We needed somebody to really step up on the mound and Justin definitely did that for us. Anytime you give up 40 runs in a doubleheader and come out with a split, I think as a coach, you have to be very happy. We will try to get after them again on Saturday."
Hill 21, McLennan 13
McLennan 440 112 1 – 13 13 1
Hill 571 215 x – 21 20 2
Paul Kirkpatrick, Hunter Spaeth (2), Jamie Andriot (7) and Cory Voss. Jordan Dailey, Aiden Barrera (5), Trevor Stephan (6) and D.J. Petrinsky. WP: Barrera; LP: Kirpatrick. Leading hitters – McLennan: Joe Breaux (2-4, 2B, RBI), Tucker Johnson (2-5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI), Dimas Ojeda (3-5, HR, RBI), Brendan Venter (1-2, HR, 3 RBI), Noah McGowan (2-4, 3 RBI) and Mario Vela (1-3, RBI); Hill: Caleb Dean (1-5, 2B), Philip Ingram (5-5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI), Omar Salinas (3-5, 2 2B, HR, 2RBI), Saul Guardado (1-5, RBI), D.J. Petrinsky (3-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI), Dylan Lemons (4-5, 3 HR, 8 RBI), Tommy Nawa (1-3, 2B) and Roosevelt Henderson (0-3, RBI). Record: McLennan 29-9 (11-6).
McLennan 21, Hill 19
McLennan 310 064 022 03 – 21 25 7
Hill 403 150 230 01 – 19 15 0
Coleman Beazley, Collin Sharp (1), Palmer Wenzel (4), Mark Doerries (6), Michael Cugini (8), Justin Garcia (8) and Nic Motley. Pedro Mercado, Colby Fowler (1), Kyle Taylor (5), Aiden Barrera (6), Trevor Stephan (6), Hunter Vasquez (11) and D.J. Petrinsky. WP: Garcia; LP: Vasquez. Leading hitters – McLennan: Tucker Johnson (3-7, HR, 2 RBI), Dimas Ojeda (3-6, 2B), Cory Voss (5-7, 2B, RBI), Brendan Venter (2-7, 2B, HR, 5 RBI), Noah McGowan (3-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI), James Rudkin (2-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Griffin Williams (2-3, 2 HR, 5 RBI), Joe Breaux (3-4, 2 2B) and Creighton Eldridge (2-4, HR, RBI); Hill: Caleb Dean (1-3, HR, 3 RBI), Philip Ingram (3-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Omar Salinas (2-4, HR, 3 RBI), D.J. Petrinsky (2-6, 2B, 2 RBI), Dylan Lemons (3-7, 2 HR, 3 RBI) and Tommy Nawa (2-6, 2 HR, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 30-9 (12-6).
