McLennan Softball dropped both games of today's regular-season finale against the North Central Lady Lions at Bosque River Ballpark.
The Highlassies fell to the Lady Lions 11-5 in the opener with Emily Klanika taking the loss in the circle.
North Central began the scoring with two runs in the top of the second. Mary Grace Howard singled and stole second. Taylor White also singled. Chelsea Luddeke followed with a fielder's choice to score Howard. A fielder's choice by Katie Smith brought White in to score.
McLennan tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Emeri Eubanks doubled and Olivia Lantigua was hit by the pitch. Both runners scored on a double by Brooke Arnold.
The Highlassies took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Sophie Wideman walked and Lantigua singled. Rebeca Fajardo followed with a single to score Wideman, and Lantigua scored on the throw.
The Lady Lions scored four in the fifth to take the lead. Peyton Streetman drew a lead-off walk. Brooklyn Mason and Madison Blair both singled to load the bases. Howard followed with a single to score Streetman and Mason, and Blair scored on the throw. Howard then scored on a passed ball.
Four more North Central runs scored in the sixth. Smith singled and Streetman reached on an error. Mason also singled, loading the bases. Smith was out at the plate on a fielder's choice by Payton Davidson. Howard singled to score Streetman and Mason. White then singled to score Davidson. Howard came in to score on a passed ball.
The Lady Lions final run came in the top of the seventh. Smith doubled, Streetman reached on an error and Mason singled, loading the bases. Davidson followed with a single to score Smith.
Arianna Perales' home run for McLennan in the bottom of the seventh would round out the scoring.
It was all North Central in the nightcap as the Lady Lions defeated McLennan 21-0 in five innings. Destiny Guerra took the loss in the circle. Arnold went 2-2 at the plate with a double for McLennan.
McLennan advances to the Region V North Tournament beginning Friday in Weatherford.
North Central 11, McLennan 5
North Central 020 044 1 – 11 14 0
McLennan 020 200 1 – 5 10 2
Gabriela Lopez and Samantha Coker. Emily Klanika and Kaitlin Richards. WP: Lopez; LP: Klanika. Leading hitters – North Central: Brooklyn Mason (3-4), Payton Davidson (2-5, RBI), Mary Grace Howard (3-4, 5 RBI), Taylor White (2-4, RBI), Gabriela Lopez (1-4, 2B), Chelsea Luddeke (0-4, RBI) and Katie Smith (2-4, 2B, RBI); McLennan: Arianna Perales (2-4, HR, RBI), Emeri Eubanks (1-4, 2B), Olivia Lantigua (2-3), Brooke Arnold (1-3, 2B, 2 RBI) and Rebeca Fajardo (2-3, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 26-23 (17-14).
North Central 21, McLennan 0
North Central 129 63 – 21 20 1
McLennan 000 00 – 0 3 1
Madisyn Hargrove, Jada Muller (4), Ashley Hedrick (5) and Ariana Robles. Destiny Guerra, Lindy Alexander (3), Emeri Eubanks (5) and Kaitlin Richards. WP: Hargrove; LP: Guerra. Leading hitters – North Central: Brooklyn Mason (3-4, 4 RBI), Katie Smith (3-5, 2B, 3 RBI), Payton Davidson (2-4, 2 RBI), Faith Hollingsworth (3-5, 2 RBI), Kacee Dellis (3-3, 3B, 3 RBI), Logan Kegley (1-3, RBI), Kameron Cheshier (2-3, 2B, 3 RBI) and Ariana Robles (1-3, 3 RBI); McLennan :Brooke Arnold (2-2, 2B). Record: McLennan 26-24 (17-15).
