The McLennan Highlanders completed the four-game sweep of the Temple Leopards with a pair of victories today at Bosque River Ballpark.
McLennan picked up the 4-3 win in the opener in walk-off fashion with Jared Matheson getting the win on the mound in relief of Wyatt Cheney.
Temple scored one run in the top of the first as Caleb Hill singled, stole second, advanced to third on an error and scored as Chris Morrow reached on an error.
McLennan tied the game with Marquis Jackson's lead-off homer in the bottom of the first.
The Highlanders took the lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth as Izzy Lopez was hit by the pitch, advanced around to third on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Hunter Grimes.
The Leopards tied the game with a run in the sixth. Travis Chestnut drew a lead-off walk and stole second. Chestnut then advanced to third on an error and scored on a fielder's choice by Zane Spinn.
Temple took the lead with a run in the top of the ninth. Joseph Redfield single and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Kyle Gates. Hogan Heller then singled to score Redfield.
McLennan stole the win with two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Pinch hitters Elijah Rodriguez and Mateo Zeppieri both singled and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Lopez. Jackson was given the intentional walk, loading the bases. Grimes followed with the walk-off two-run single to win the game.
McLennan picked up the 12-2 run-rule win in the nightcap with Gray Harrison on the mound.
The Leopards began the scoring with Redfield's solo home run in the second.
The Highlanders took the lead with five runs in the bottom of the third. Jason Hawkins walked but was out at second on a fielder's choice by Lopez. Ty Johnson followed with a double, scoring Lopez. Grimes then singled to score Johnson. Cole Fontenelle was hit by the pitch, and Cole Dillon singled to scored Grimes. Daniel Altman drew a walk, and Chase Brown singled to score Fontenelle and Dillon.
McLennan added a run in the fourth. Lopez walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a fly out by Johnson. Grimes then tripled to score Lopez.
Temple's final run came with Chestnut's home run in the top of the fifth.
McLennan sealed the run rule with six runs in the bottom of the fifth. Dillon doubled and Altman was hit by the pitch. Dillon scored on a Temple error, and Rodriguez was safe on a sacrifice hit. Zeppieri followed with a three-run homer. Hawkins doubled and advanced on a wild pitch. Johnson walked and Grimes singled to score Hawkins. Fontenelle followed with a sacrifice fly to score Johnson and win the game.
The Highlanders will play their final non-conference game of the season against Wharton Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. on the campus of Texas State University in San Marcos.
McLennan 4, Temple 3
Temple 100 001 001 – 3 6 1
McLennan 100 010 002 – 4 8 3
Davis Pratt, Mason Brandenberger (6), Hagen Rose (7) and Bryan Williams. Wyatt Cheney, Jared Matheson (7) and Hank Bard. WP: Matheson; LP: Rose. Leading hitters – Temple: Caleb Hill (3-4), Zane Spinn (1-4, RBI), Chris Morrow (0-4, RBI) and Hogan Heller (1-1, RBI); McLennan: Marquis Jackson (2-2, HR, RBI) and Hunter Grimes (1-4, 3 RBI). Record: McLennan 35-9-1 (20-3).
McLennan 12, Temple 2
Temple 010 01 – 2 5 0
McLennan 005 16 – 12 10 0
Hudson Luce, Dash Albus (3), Addison Sells (5) and Bryan Williams. Gray Harrison, Austin Ford (5) and Jason Hawkins. WP: Harrison; LP: Luce. Leading hitters – Temple: Travis Chestnut (1-3, HR, RBI), Joseph Redfield (1-1, HR, RBI) and Matthew Armes (1-2, 2B); McLennan: Ty Johnson (1-3, 2B, RBI), Hunter Grimes (3-4, 3B, 3 RBI), Cole Fontenelle (0-2, RBI), Cole Dillon (2-3, 2B, RBI), Chase Brown (1-2, 2 RBI), Jason Hawkins (1-2, 2B) and Mateo Zeppieri (1-1, HR, 3 RBI). Record: McLennan 36-9-1 (21-3).
