Highlanders sweep Temple on the road
The McLennan Highlanders picked up a road doubleheader sweep of the Temple Leopards this afternoon in Temple.
McLennan took game one 6-5 with Connor Phillips getting the win and Daniel Cole getting the save.
The Highlanders began the scoring with three runs in the top of the first. Jalen Battles drew a lead-off walk and Caleb Balgaard singled. Battles scored on a ground out by Martin, and Hank Bard doubled to score Balgaard. Jimmy Crooks then single to score Bard.
McLennan added a run in the second as Seth Morrow singled, stole second and scored on a single by Battles.
Temple got on the board with two runs in the second as Andruw Gonzales singled and scored on a Cole Payne home run.
Two more McLennan runs scored in the third as Crooks tripled and scored on Miguel Santos' in-the-park home run.
The Leopards added a run in the bottom of the third. Max Puls was safe on an error and moved to second on a passed ball. Raul Aragon then singled to score Puls.
Temple rounded out the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Dylan Blomquist was safe on an error and Seth Stephenson doubled. A passed ball brought Blomquist in to score and moved Stephenson to third. Stephenson the scored on a wild pitch.
Game two was a slugfest with McLennan coming out on top, 15-13. Brady Rose picked up the win and Joey Martin got the save.
The Highlanders scored a run in the first. Squires was hit by the pitch and Martin singled. Bard followed with a single to score Squires.
The Leopards responded with four runs in the bottom of the first. Stephenson tripled and scored on a ground out by Reese Johnson. Puls walked and Payne was hit by the pitch. Both runners advanced on a balk. Aragon singled to score Puls, and Payne scored on a wild pitch. Tanner Fischer walked and Aragon scored on a McLennan error.
McLennan took the lead with four runs in the top of the third. Balgaard and Squires both walked, advanced on a balk and scored on double by Martin. Martin moved to third on a balk and Crooks walked. Martin scored on an error as Crooks stole second and advanced to third. Ryan Neitsch then singled to score Crooks.
Temple added two runs in the bottom of the third to regain the lead. Blomquist walked and Fischer bunted for a single. Tristan Pitkin walked to load the bases. Parker McGrew then singled to score Blomquist and Fischer.
The Highlanders took the lead again with two runs in the fourth as Balgaard singled and scored on a Squires home run.
McLennan extended the lead with four runs in the sixth. Battles and Balgaard both singled. Martin followed with a double to score Battles, and Bard singled to score Balgaard and Martin. Bard advanced around to third on a Temple error and scored on single by Santos.
Temple added a run in the bottom of the sixth as Stephenson walked, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a single by Robert Shaw.
Three more Leopard runs scored in the seventh. Fischer and Gonzales both singled and advanced on a sacrifice by McGrew. Stephenson then walked to load the bases. Johnson followed with a single, scoring Fischer and Gonzales. Payne then singled to score Stephenson.
The Highlanders scored two in the eighth. Squires was hit by the pitch and Martin singled. Bard and Crooks drew back-to-back walks to score Squires. Santos then hit into a double play, bringing Martin in to score.
McLennan's final two runs came in the top of the ninth as Morrow singled and scored on another Squires home run.
Temple's final three runs came in the bottom of the ninth as Stephenson and Johnson both singled and scored on Payne's home run.
McLennan and Temple will complete the four-game series with a noon doubleheader Friday at Bosque River Ballpark.
McLennan 6, Temple 5
McLennan 312 000 0 – 6 12 2
Temple 021 200 0 – 5 8 0
Connor Phillips, Daniel Cole (6) and Jimmy Crooks. Ulises Quiroga, Diego Fernandez (4) and Andruw Gonzales. WP: Phillips; LP: Quiroga; SV: Cole. Leading hitters – McLennan: Jalen Battles (2-3, 2B, RBI), Caleb Balgaard (2-3), Garrett Martin (1-4, RBI), Hank Bard (2-4, 2B, RBI), Miguel Santos (1-3 HR, 2 RBI) and Jimmy Crooks (3-3, 3B, RBI); Temple: Andruw Gonzales (2-3), Raul Aragon (1-4, RBI), Cole Payne (1-4, HR, 2 RBI) and Seth Stephenson (2-4, 2B). Record: McLennan 18-5 (4-1).