Highlanders complete series sweep of NCTC

The No. 8 McLennan Highlanders completed the four-game conference series sweep of the North Central Texas Lions with a pair of wins Sunday in Gainesville.

Freshman Grant Miller got the complete-game shutout on the mound for the Highlanders in game one as they defeated the Lions 1-0. Miller allowed just one hit in the seven-inning game and struck out three batters.

The only run of the contest came for the Highlanders in the top of the second inning. Thomas Santos singled but was out at second on a fielder's choice by Keaton Milford. Milford then came all the way around from first to score on a triple by Nick Thornquist.

McLennan got a 13-1 run-rule victory in game two with Logan Freeman picking up the win on the mound.

North Central's only run came in the bottom of the first as David Reyna singled, stole second, moved to third on a single by Jonathan Arrieta and scored on a double by Cesar Gomez.

The Highlanders took control of the game with six runs in the top of the second inning. Santos singled and Milford was hit by the pitch, both advancing a base on a balk. Santos scored on a wild pitch and Milford scored on a sacrifice fly by Thornquist. Griffin Paxton singled, Brooks Embry reached on an error and George Callil walked to load the bases. Dylan Neuse then singled to score Paxton and Embry, and Callil and Neuse scored on a single by Josh Breaux.

McLennan added three runs in the third. Milford singled and stole second, and Paxton drew a walk. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Callil's home run.

Neuse hit a solo shot in the sixth to add to the Highlanders' lead.

The final three McLennan runs came in the top of the seventh. Embry singled and scored on a home run by pinch hitter Mitchell Caskey. Neuse then reached first safely on an error, moved to second on a ground out by Aidan Shepardson and scored on a single by Santos.

McLennan 1, North Central 0
McLennan 010 000 0 – 1 3 0
North Central 000 000 0 – 0 1 0
Grant Miller and Josh Breaux. Will Reynaud, Ojani Chacon (6) and Dalton Davies. WP: Miller; LP: Reynaud. Leading hitters – McLennan: Keaton Milford (1-2 2B) and Nick Thornquist (1-3. 3B, RBI); North Central: Nick Tamez (1-2). Record: McLennan 28-8 (13-2).

McLennan 13, North Central 1
McLennan 063 001 3 – 13 11 1
North Central 100 000 0 – 1 3 2
Logan Freeman, Tristen Bayless (6), Christian Larson (7) and Nick Thornquist. Chandler Currey, Austin Whitelock (6) and Spencer Bloom. WP: Freeman; LP: Currey. Leading hitters – McLennan: Dylan Neuse (2-5, HR, 3 RBI), Thomas Santos (3-4, 2B, RBI), George Callil (1-2, HR, 3 RBI) and Mitchell Caskey (1-1, HR, RBI); North Central: Cesar Gomez (1-3, 2B, RBI). McLennan 29-8 (14-2).