The No. 5 McLennan Highlanders got to run-rule wins on the road this afternoon at Ranger to take the conference series over the Rangers 3-1.
The Highlanders defeated the Rangers 13-0 in the opener with Wyatt Cheney getting the shutout victory on the mound. Cheney recorded 11 strikeouts in the five-inning game.
McLennan began the scoring with three runs in the second. Cole Fontenelle double and scored on a single by Ravaughn Morgan. Marquis Jackson bunted for a single and Hank Bard reached on an error, loading the bases. Morgan scored on a sacrifice fly by Katcher Halligan, and Jackson scored on a ground out by Izzy Lopez.
Seven more Highlander run scored in the third. Daniel Altman walked and scored on double by Fontenelle. Morgan followed with a single to score Fontenelle. Bard and Halligan both singled, loading the bases. Lopez walked, bringing Morgan in to score. Hunter Grimes then reached on an error, scoring Bard. Ty Johnson followed with a triple to score Halligan, Lopez and Grimes.
McLennan added three more runs in the fourth. Fontenelle doubled and scored on a single by Jackson. Bard walked and Lopez singled to score Jackson. Grimes then singled to score Bard.
The Highlanders defeated the Rangers 10-1 in the nightcap with Gray Harrison getting the win on the mound.
McLennan scored two runs in the first. Grimes and Fontenelle both singled. Grimes scored on a Ranger error, and Fontenelle scored on a double by Halligan.
An Elijah Rodriguez home run in the second made it a 3-0 Highlander lead.
Three McLennan runs scored in the fourth. Halligan singled and Rodriguez walked. Lopez then singled to score Halligan, and Rodriguez scored on a sacrifice by Jason Hawkins. Grimes then singled to score Lopez.
Fontenelle added a solo home run for the Highlanders in the fifth.
Another McLennan run scored in the sixth as Lopez walked, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice by Hawkins and scored on a single by Grimes.
The final two Highlander runs came in the seventh. Altman hit a solo home run and Rodriguez walked. Lopez reached on an error but was out at second on a fielder's choice by Hawkins. Mateo Zeppieri then singled to score Rodriguez.
McLennan continues conference play Wednesday, traveling to Hill for a noon doubleheader.
McLennan 13, Ranger 0
McLennan 037 30 – 13 14 0
Ranger 000 00 – 0 3 1
Wyatt Cheney and Hank Bard. Micah Ford, Austin Bell (4), Johnny Skweres (4) and Chris Kean. WP: Cheney, LP: Ford. Leading hitters – McLennan: Hunter Grimes (1-4, 2 RBI), Ty Johnson (1-4, 3B, 3 RBI), Cole Fontenelle (4-4, 3 2B, RBI), Ravaughn Morgan (2-4, 2 RBI), Marquis Jackson (2-4, RBI), Katcher Halligan (1-2, RBI) and Izzy Lopez (1-2, 3 RBI); Ranger: Alexander Olivo (1-2, 2B).Record: McLennan 15-6-1 (2-1).
McLennan 10, Ranger 1
McLennan 210 311 2 – 10 12 0
Ranger 000 000 1 – 1 2 3
Gray Harrison and Jason Hawkins. Parker Bigham, Gabriel Sevillano (3), Eli Breeden (6) and Chris Kean. WP: Harrison; LP: Bigham. Leading hitters – McLennan: Hunter Grimes (3-4, 2 RBI), Cole Fontenelle (2-3, HR, RBI), Katcher Halligan (2-4, 2B, RBI), Elijah Rodriguez (1-2, HR, RBI), Izzy Lopez (1-3, RBI), Jason Hawkins (0-2, RBI), Mateo Zeppieri (1-1, RBI) and Daniel Altman (1-1, HR, RBI); Ranger: Edmundo Alanis (1-3, 2B). Record: McLennan 16-6-1 (3-1).
