The eighth-ranked McLennan Softball squad picked up a pair of conference wins over the Hill Lady Rebels this afternoon at Bosque River Ballpark.
McLennan got a 10-1 run-rule win in five innings of game one with Hailey Hudson in the circle.
McLennan began the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first as Ka'Lyn Watson singled, stole second and third, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Erin Plunkett.
Three more McLennan runs scored in the second. Julia Herzinger reached on an error and advanced on a wild pitch. Jenny Robison then doubled to score Herzinger. Sidney Campion also reached on an error, allowing Robison to score. Campion advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Maddie Saven and scored on a double by Jalie Neff.
McLennan added four runs in the third. Caitlyn Wong and Hudson both singled and scored on Herzinger's home run. Robison then singled, advanced to second on an error and scored on a single by Campion.
Hill's only run came on a Kelsey Creech home run in the fourth.
McLennan sealed the win with two runs in the fourth. Plunkett hit a solo home run and Wong singled. Herzinger then doubled to score Wong.
In game two, McLennan came from behind to get the 6-5 victory. Matie Wolkow got the win in the circle.
Wong hit a solo home run in the first to begin the scoring.
Hill responded with four runs in the top of the second. Lindsey Ratcliffe walked and Madison Gerik singled. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Bridgette Montes. Mackenzie Duckworth then reached on an error, bringing Ratcliffe in to score, and Jayce Bolin came in as the pinch runner for Duckworth. Gerik scored on a sacrifice fly by Victoria Gonzalez. Lexi Wheeler reached on an error, and Creech doubled to score Bolin and Wheeler.
McLennan added two runs in the second. Riley Rutherford led off with a solo home run. Herzinger then tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Maddie Saven.
Two McLennan runs in the third gave them the lead. Watson and Plunkett both singled. Rutherford then singled to score both runners.
Hill tied the game with a run in the top of the fifth. Eileigh Whyte singled and was replaced by Savannah Pepperell as a pinch runner. Ratcliffe reached on an error, and Pepperell scored on a fielder's choice by Gerik.
McLennan secured the win with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Herzinger led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Campion. Neff followed with a pinch-hit double to score Herzinger.
The two teams will complete the four-game conference series with a doubleheader at noon Saturday in Hillsboro.
McLennan 10, Hill 1
Hill 000 10 – 1 2 3
McLennan 134 2x – 10 11 0
McKenna Meadors, Abby Thomas (2) and Mackenzie Duckworth. Hailey Hudson and Julia Herzinger. WP: Hudson; LP: Meadors. Leading hitters – Hill: Kelsey Creech (1-2, HR, RBI); McLennan: Erin Plunkett (0-2, HR, 2 RBI), Caitlyn Wong (2-3), Julia Herzinger (2-3, 2B, HR, 4 RBI), Jenny Robison (2-3, 3B, RBI), Jenny Robison (2-3, 2B, RBI), Sidney Campion (1-2, RBI) and Jalie Neff (1-2, 2B, RBI). Record: McLennan 25-4 (8-1).
McLennan 6, Hill 5
Hill 040 010 0 – 5 5 0
McLennan 122 001 x – 6 11 3
Eileigh Whyte and Mackenzie Duckworth. Cheyenne Floyd, Matie Wolkow (5) and Riley Rutherford. WP: Wolkow; LP: Whyte. Leading hitters – Hill: Lexi Wheeler (2-4) and Kelsey Creech (1-3, 2B, 2 RBI); McLennan: Caitlyn Wong (2-3, HR, RBI), Riley Rutherford (2-3, HR, 3 RBI), Julia Herzinger (2-3, 3B), Maddie Saven (0-2, RBI) and Jalie Neff (1-1, 2B, RBI). Record: McLennan 26-4 (9-1).
