Highlanders fall to Wharton

The McLennan Highlanders fell to the Wharton Pioneers 5-2 on Mondayafternoon in Wharton. Matt Mundkowsky took the loss on the mound.

McLennan began the scoring with one run in the top of the first as Miles Manning singled, advanced to second when Matt Campbell was hit by the pitch, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a fly out by Zac Valenzuela. 

Wharton tied the game with one run in the bottom of the second as Jordan Lucks walked, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Robert Heep.

The Pioneers took the lead with a run in the bottom of the third as Anthony Reed singled, moved to second on J.D. Arrowood's walk and scored on a double by Logan Howard.

The Highlanders tied the game with a run in the top of the fifth as Sydney Daley singled and scored on a double by Eric Johnson.

Wharton regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Reed and Jake Marler both singled. Arrowood followed with a single to score Reed. Marler then scored on a fly out by Howard.

The Pioneers rounded out the scoring with a run in the seventh. Marler was hit by the pitch and replaced at first by pinch runner Darius Patton. Patton then moved to second on a balk, stole third and scored on a single by Lucks.

McLennan returns to action next Monday, traveling to Corsicana for a single nine-inning game with Navarro at 2 p.m.

McLennan 100 010 000 – 2 5 0
Wharton 011 020 10x – 5 8 1
Matt Mundkowsky, Greg Maisto (6), Conner Camacho (8) and Dalton Rodriguez. Fernando Martinez, Lance Elling (5), Justin Jones (7), Joseph Lyall and Travis Dominguez. WP: Elling; L: Mundkowsky. Leading hitters – McLennan: Zac Valenzuela (0-4, RBI), Sydney Daley (2-3, RBI) and Eric Johnson (1-3, 2B); Wharton: J.D. Arrowood (1-3, RBI), Logan Howard (1-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Jordan Lucks (1-3, RBI) and Robert Heep (2-3. RBI). Record: McLennan 26-23 (15-13).