The McLennan Highlassies and Kilgore Lady Rangers split today's doubleheader in Kilgore.
McLennan dominated game one, defeating Kilgore 10-2 with Emily Klanika getting the win in the circle.
The Highlassies scored one run in the top of the second. Arianna Perales led off with a single and Lindy Alexander reached safely on an error; both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Emeri Eubanks. Perales then scored on a ground out by Rebeca Fajardo.
Kilgore tied the game with a run in the bottom of the second. Nicole King was hit by the pitch and Makenna Bell reached safely on an error. Ella Ortiz then doubled to score King.
McLennan took the lead with four runs in the third. Kaelin Morkisch singled and Olivia Lantigua followed with a fielder's choice, putting Morkisch out at second. Kaitlin Richards walked, and Sophie Wideman followed with a three-run homer. Lindy Alexander then doubled and scored on a Kilgore error.
The Highlassies added a run in the fourth as Genisa Marrero-Carter walked, stole second, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Morkisch and scored on a ground out by Lantigua.
Two more McLennan runs scored in the top of the fifth inning. Alexander reached on an error and was replaced by pinch runner Charley Avery. Avery then advanced to third on a ground out by Eubanks and scored on Brooke Arnold's home run.
McLennan added another two runs in the sixth inning. Morkisch singled and Lantigua walked. Richards then singled to score Morkisch. Wideman also walked, and Lantigua scored on a sacrifice fly by Perales.
Ella Ortiz's solo home run in the bottom of the sixth rounded out the scoring.
Game two was an offensive battle with Kilgore getting the 10-9 win. Destiny Guerra took the loss for McLennan.
The Highlassies began the scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning. Morkisch singled and scored on a single by Lantigua. Richards then doubled to score Lantigua.
Kilgore took the lead with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Kendyl Dockter drew a lead-off walk and moved to second on a ground out by Tori Tovar. Ella Ortiz singled and Kelsey Ahart reached on an error, bringing Dockter in to score. King followed with a three-run homer.
The Lady Rangers added two runs in the second. Lauren Corley singled and Dockter doubled. Tovar followed with a double to score Corley, and Dockter scored on a single by Ella Ortiz.
Two more Kilgore runs scored in the fourth. Tovar reached on an error, and Ella Ortiz singled. Ahart followed with single to score Tovar, and pinch runner Brooke Goynes replaced Ortiz. Goynes moved to third on an error and scored on a ground out by King.
The Highlassies added a run in the fifth. Lantigua doubled, Wideman reached on an error and Perales singled to load the bases. Lantigua was out at home on a fielder's choice by Arnold. Eubanks then singled to score Wideman.
McLennan cut into the Kilgore lead with two runs in the sixth. Morkisch singled, stole second and scored on a double by Lantigua. Richards then doubled to score Lantigua.
Kilgore's final two runs came in the bottom of the sixth. Ahart singled and King hit a fielder's choice. Bell singled, and Breanna Ortiz singled to score King. Christina Herrera followed with a single to score Bell.
McLennan mounted a comeback, scoring four runs in the top of the seventh but came up one run short. Arnold doubled and Eubanks singled. Alexander followed with a mishandled fielder's choice. Marrero-Carter then doubled to score Arnold and Eubanks. Lantigua then singled to score Alexander and Marrero-Carter.
McLennan returns to action Wednesday, traveling to Houston for a 1 p.m. doubleheader at San Jacinto.
McLennan 10, Kilgore 2
McLennan 014 122 – 10 8 3
Kilgore 010 001 – 2 5 3
Emily Klanika and Kaitlin Richards. Mattie McQuary, Michaela Latham (6) and Nicole King. WP: Klanika; LP: McQuary. Leading hitters – McLennan: Kaelin Morkisch (2-3), Olivia Lantigua (0-3, RBI), Kaitlin Richards (2-2, 2B, RBI), Sophie Wideman (1-3, HR, 3 RBI), Arianna Perales (1-3, RBI), Lindy Alexander (1-3, 2B), Rebeca Fajardo (0-2, RBI) and Brooke Arnold (1-1, HR, 2 RBI); Kilgore: Makenna Bell (1-2, 2B) and Ella Ortiz (2-3, 2B, HR, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 9-6.
Kilgore 10, McLennan 9
McLennan 200 012 4 – 9 14 4
Kilgore 420 202 x – 10 14 3
Destiny Guerra, Carla Torres (2) and Sophie Wideman. Amanda White, Andrea Decareu (7) and Nicole King. WP: White; LP: Guerra. Leading hitters – McLennan: Olivia Lantigua (4-5, 2 2B, 4 RBI), Kaitlin Richards (2-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI), Emeri Eubanks (2-4, RBI), Brooke Arnold (1-4, 2B), Destiny Sanchez (1-2, 2B) and Genisa Marrero-Carter (1-2, 2B, 2 RBI); Kilgore: Kendyl Dockter (1-3, 2B), Tori Tovar (1-5, RBI), Ella Ortiz (3-4, RBI), Kelsey Ahart (2-4, 2 RBI), Nicole King (1-4, HR, 4 RBI), Breanna Ortiz (1-1, RBI), Christina Herrera (1-4, RBI) and Lauren Corley (2-4). Record: McLennan 9-7.
