The McLennan Highlanders opened the three-game series with a pair of victories over the New Mexico Thunderbirds.
Alex Wallace, Mason Cook and Isaac Godard combined for a 2-0 no hitter in the opener with Wallace getting the win on the mound.
Both Highlander runs came in the bottom of the third inning. Walker Freeman and McClane Helton were both hit by the pitch. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Sherman Johnson. Freeman scored on a sacrifice fly by Spencer Butt, and Helton scored on a single by Harden.
McLennan came from behind to take game two 10-6 with Jonah Conradt getting the win on the mound.
The Highlanders scored two runs in the second. Cage McCloud led off with a triple and scored on Freeman's fielder's choice. Freeman then advanced on an error, stole third and scored on a ground out by Brecken Menuet.
New Mexico took the lead with five runs in the top of the third. Casen Savage tripled and Omar Reluz walked. Talan Barraza also tripled, scoring both runners. Callum Donnelly was hit by the pitch, and Lane Arroyos doubled to score Barraza and Donnelly. Julius Ramirez singled, and Arroyos scored on a line out by Travis Vlasek.
Daniel Harden put a run on the board for the Highlanders with a solo home run in the bottom of the inning.
The Thunderbirds added a run with home run by Julius Ramirez in the top of the fifth.
Deiten Lachance's solo home run in the sixth pulled the Highlanders within two, 6-4.
McLennan took the lead with six runs in the bottom of the seventh. Helton and Johnson both singled and scored on a double by Owen Smith. Smith advanced on a ground out by Harden and scored on a double by Ty Waid. McCloud singled and Lachance followed with the three-run bomb.
The teams will complete the series with a 1 p.m. game Saturday.
McLennan 2, New Mexico 0
New Mexico 000 000 0 – 0 0 0
McLennan 002 000 x – 2 2 0
Justin Nicks, Moises Lamon (5) and Peyton Pierce. Alex Wallace, Mason Cook (3), Isaac Godard (7) and Deiten Lachance. WP: Wallace; LP: Nicks. Leading hitters – McLennan: Spencer Butts (0-1, RBI) and Daniel Harden (0-3, RBI). Record: McLennan 8-2.
McLennan 10, New Mexico 6
New Mexico 005 010 000 – 6 6 1
McLennan 021 001 60x – 10 12 0
Donovan Becerra, Brandon Stewart (6), Ricardo Rojas (7) and Lachlan Maude. Kadyn Leon, Hank Bowers (3), Griffin Lewis (3), Jonah Conradt (6) and Cade Waibel (9). WP: Conradt; LP: Stewart. Leading hitters – New Mexico: Lane Arroyos (1-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Julius Ramirez (2-4, HR, RBI), Casen Savage (2-4, 2B, 3B) and Tala Barraza (1-4, 3B, 2 RBI); McLennan: Owen Smith (1-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Daniel Harden (2-5, HR, RBI), Ty Waid (1-3, 2B, RBI), Cage McCloud (2-4, 3B), Deiten Lachance (3-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI), Walker Freeman (0-4, RBI), Brecken Menuet (0-4, RBI) and McClane Helton (2-4). Record: McLennan 9-2.
