McLennan Softball swept the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Lady Crusaders this afternoon in Belton.
McLennan defeated UMHB 6-3 in the opener with Reese Taylor getting the win in the circle.
McLennan began the scoring with a run in the top of the third inning. Rebeca Fajardo singled and Cydney DeLeon drew a walk. Both runners advanced on a ground out by Arianna Perales. Sophie Wideman walked to load the bases. Fajardo then scored on a passed ball.
UMHB tied the game with an Izzy Gutierrez home run in the bottom of the third.
The Lady Crusaders took the lead with two runs in the fourth. Kelsey Lowke singled and Taygan Landrey walked; both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Jessica Miller. Lowke scored on a fly out by Gutierrez. Kami Flores walked and Landrey scored on a wild pitch.
McLennan tied the game with two runs in the top of the fifth. DeLeon was safe at first on a dropped third strike. Perales singled and DeLeon scored on a ground out by Wideman. Lindsey Evans then singled to score Perales.
Three McLennan runs in the top of the seventh sealed the win. DeLeon and Perales both singled. DeLeon was thrown out stealing home. Perales then stole second and third. Wideman walked and Perales scored on a wild pitch. Evans then doubled to score Wideman, and Genesis Rodriguez singled to score Evans.
McLennan took game two 13-7 with Gracy Crafts picking up the win in the circle.
The first two McLennan runs came in the second inning. Melayna Lopez walked, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a double by Fajardo. Fajardo moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Perales.
McLennan added two runs in the third. DeLeon walked and came around to score on a pair of passed balls. Madeline Stephens walked, moved to second on a ground out by Mackenzie Adams and advanced to third on a passed ball. Lopez then singled to score Stephens.
Five McLennan runs in the fourth t break the game open. Wideman singled and scored on a DeLeon home run. Stephens and Adams both walked, and Lopez singled to load the bases. Fajardo followed with a double, clearing the bases.
UMHB's first run came with a Kylee Flores home run in the bottom of the fourth.
McLennan added three runs in the fifth. DeLeon walked, Stephens singled and Evans walked to load the bases. Adams replaced Evans as a pinch runner at first. Kadyn Trochim followed with a fielder's choice, putting DeLeon out at the plate. Fajardo then singled to score Stephens and Adams. Trochim then scored on a single by Jasmine Garcia.
The Lady Crusaders added five runs in the bottom of the inning. Landrey walked and Miller reached on an error. Gutierrez followed with a single to score Landrey. Flores then grounded out, scoring Miller. Alexis Galvan followed with a single to score Gutierrez. Bush singled and both runners advanced on a ground out by Bailey Stoker. Chelsea Craven then singled to score Bush and Galvan.
The final McLennan run came with Taylor's home run in the top of the sixth.
UMHB rounded out the scoring with a Gutierrez home run in the bottom of the sixth.
McLennan travels to Houston Wednesday to face San Jacinto in a 2 p.m. doubleheader.
McLennan 6, Mary Hardin-Baylor 3
McLennan 001 020 3 – 6 8 2
UMHB 001 200 0 – 3 12 0
Reese Taylor Nikki Ramirez (6) and Sophie Wideman. Kami Flores and Kelsey Lowke. WP: Taylor; LP: Flores. Leading hitters – McLennan: Arianna Perales (2-4), Sophie Wideman (0-1, RBI), Lindsey Evans (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI) and Genesis Rodriguez (1-1, RBI); UMHB: Jessica Miller (2-4), Izzy Gutierrez (2-4, HR, 2 RBI), Bailey Stoker (2-4), Kami Flores (2-4) and Kelsey Lowke (2-3). Record: McLennan 6-2.
McLennan 13, Mary Hardin-Baylor 7
McLennan 022 531 0 – 13 13 1
UMHB 000 151 0 – 7 11 1
Gracy Crafts, Nikki Ramirez (7) and Madeline Stephens. Jules Martinez, Kami Flores (3), Camryn Rucker (6) and Kelsey Lowke. WP: Crafts; LP: Martinez. Leading hitters – McLennan: Reese Taylor (1-1, HR, RBI), Cydney DeLeon (2-3, HR, 2 RBI), Melayna Lopez (2-2, RBI), Rebeca Fajardo (5-5, 2 2B, 6 RBI) and Jasmine Garcia (1-3, RBI); UMHB: Izzy Gutierrez (3-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Kylee Flores (1-4, HR, 2 RBI), Alexis Galvan (3-3, RBI) and Chelsea Craven (2-4, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 7-2.
