Highlanders fall to Blinn on the road

The McLennan Highlanders closed out the nonconference portion of their spring schedule with an 11-2 loss to the Blinn Buccaneers Monday in Brenham. Freshman Levi David took the loss on the mound for the Highlanders.

Blinn jumped out to an early lead, scoring six runs in the bottom of the first inning. Reggie McCalister drew a lead-off walk and moved to second on a balk; Drew Ardoin also walked. Marshall Skinner hit into a double play, moving McCalister to third and putting Ardoin out at second. Gray Rodgers and Brandon Ashy both walked, loading the bases. Alec Sanchez also walked, bringing McCalister in to score. Cameron Gibbons followed with a single to score Rodgers and Ashy, and Koby Collins was hit by the pitch. Sammy Blair then singled to score Sanchez and Gibbons, and Collins scored on a single by McCalister.

The Bucs added four runs in the third inning. Gibbons singled, Collins reached first base safely on an error, and Blair bunted for a single to load the bases. McCalister also reached first safely on an error, bringing Gibbons and Collins in to score. Blair scored on a wild pitch, and McCalister scored on a single by Ashy.

Blinn's final run came in the bottom of the fourth. Gibbons, Blair and McCalister all singled, loading the bases. Ardoin then drew a walk, bringing Gibbons in to score.

Both of the Highlanders' runs came in the top of the sixth inning as Aidan Shepardson singled and scored on a Josh Breaux home run.

McLennan will look to right the ship Wednesday as it returns to conference play with a 1 p.m. doubleheader with the Grayson Vikings in Sherman.

Blinn 11, McLennan 2
McLennan 000 002 00 – 2 6 4
Blinn 604 100 000 – 11 9 1
Levi David, Max Mize (1), Payton Strambler (4), Brady Childress (6), Tristen Bayless (8) and Jackson Nichols. Eli Reichmann, Jackson Leath (4) Brice Armistead (6), Cody Collins (9) and Brandon Ashy. WP: Reichmann; LP: David. Leading hitters – McLennan: Josh Breaux (1-4, HR, 2 RBI) and Griffin Paxton (2-3); McLennan: Reggie McCalister (2-4, 3 RBI), Drew Ardoin (0-2, RBI), Brandon Ashy (1-4, RBI), Alec Sanchez (0-4, RBI), Cameron Gibbons (3-5, 2 RBI) and Sammy Blair (3-4, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 33-13 (18-6).