The No. 5 McLennan Highlanders swept the Temple Leopards on the road this afternoon in Temple.
McLennan got the 4-0 shut-out win in game one with Will Carsten pitching the complete game on the mound.
The Highlanders scored three runs in the top of the second. Katcher Halligan led off with a double and Elijah Rodriguez singled. Izzy Lopez followed with a single to score Halligan and Rodriguez. Lopez then stole second and scored on a single by Marquis Jackson.
McLennan's final run came in the top of the sixth as Cole Fontenelle singled, advanced to second on an error, moved to third on a ground out by Halligan and scored on a sacrifice fly by Daniel Altman.
The Highlanders took game two 2-1 with Devin Bennett picking up the win on the mound and Nick Greaney getting the save.
McLennan began the scoring with a run in the top of the third. Ty Johnson was hit by the pitch to lead off the inning but was out at second on a fielder's choice by Fontenelle. Fontenelle advanced to second on a Temple error and scored on a single by Altman.
The Highlanders added a run in the top of the eighth. Halligan led off with a double and advanced to second on a ground out by Altman. Rodriguez then reached on an error, bringing Halligan in to score.
Temple's only run came in the bottom of the ninth as Kyle Gates walked, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on a single by Raithen Malone.
McLennan and Temple will complete the four-game series with a noon doubleheader Saturday at Bosque River Ballpark.
McLennan 4, Temple 0
McLennan 030 001 0 – 4 7 0
Temple 000 000 0 – 0 3 2
Will Carsten and Hank Bard. Mason Bryant, Evan Hendricks (7) and Luke Bannister. WP: Carsten; LP: Bryant. Leading hitters – McLennan: Marquis Jackson (1-3, RBI), Katcher Halligan (1-3, 2B), Daniel Altman (0-2, RBI) and Izzy Lopez (1-2, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 33-9-1 (18-3).
McLennan 2, Temple 1
McLennan 001 000 010 – 2 9 0
Temple 000 000 001 – 1 6 2
Devin Bennett, Nick Greaney (8) and Jason Hawkins. Dawson Tourney, Mason Brandennerger (6) and Bryan Williams. WP: Bennett; LP: Tourney; SV: Greaney. Leading hitters – McLennan: Hunter Grimes (3-5), Katcher Halligan (1-4, 2B), Daniel Altman (2-4, RBI), and Elijah Rodriguez (1-4, 2B); Temple: Caleb Hill (2-3), Kyle Gates (2-2) and Raithen Malone (1-3, RBI). Record: McLennan 34-9-1 (19-3).
