Highlanders defeat Navarro

The McLennan Highlanders defeated the Navarro Bulldogs 12-4 on Monday afternoon in Corsicana with Matt Mundkowsky picking up the win on the mound.

McLennan began the scoring with one run in the top of the first as Evan Williams led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout by Matt Campbell and scored on a fly out by Max Hogan.

Navarro tied the game with a run in the bottom of the first as Grayson Lewis walked, stole second, moved to third on a fly out by Mason Hesse and scored on a passed ball.

The Bulldogs took the lead with two runs in the third. Hesse singled and Ryan Thomas drew a walk. Kyle Kirk followed with a single to score Hesse, and Thomas scored on a single by J.P. Phillips. 

Four runs in the top of the third gave McLennan the lead. Sydney Daley singled and Miles Manning doubled. Daley came in to score on a passed ball that moved Manning to third. J.T. Stevenson walked. Williams followed with a sacrifice fly to score Manning. Campbell singled. Hogan then tripled to score Stevenson and Campbell.

The Highlanders added two runs in the fifth. Zach Gonzalez walked and Manning singled. Both runners scored on a single by Williams. 

Navarro's final run came in the bottom of the fifth as Sam McDonnell walked, moved around to third on a single by Thomas and scored on a groundout by Kirk.

McLennan tacked on four more runs in the sixth. Hogan singled and Zac Valenzuela was safe on an error. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Trevor Podsednik and Daley both walked, bringing Hogan in to score. Valenzuela scored on a single by Manning. Podsednik scored on a passed ball, and Daley scored on a single by Mason George.

The Highlanders rounded out the scoring with a run in the eighth as Manning doubled and scored on a single by Eric Johnson.

McLennan returns to action on Wednesday, traveling to Weatherford for a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The Highlanders must win two games out of the four-game series with the Coyotes to secure a regional tournament berth.

McLennan 12, Navarro 4
McLennan 100 424 010 – 12 15 1
Navarro 102 010 000 – 4 8 2
Matt Mundkowsky, Tyler Watson (6), Andrew Sanchez (7), Zachary Kornely (9) and J.T. Stevenson, Mason George (6). Clay Brast, Zek Kleypas (4), Jako Kelm (5), Remey Reed (6) and Drew Umbro, Tyler Johnson (6). WP: Mundkowsky; LP: Brast. Leading hitters – McLennan: Evan Williams (2-4, 2B, 3 RBI), Eric Johnson (1-1 RBI), Max Hogan (2-5, 3B, 3 RBI), Andrew Rhodes (1-2, 3B), Trevor Podsenik (1-5, 2B), Sydney Daley (2-4, 2B), Miles Manning (4-5, 2 2B, RBI) and Mason George (1-2, RBI); Navarro: Kyle Kirk (2-4, 2 RBI) and J.P. Phillips (1-3, RBI). Record: McLennan 27-23 (15-13).