McLennan Softball advances to championship game with thumping of Odessa

McLennan Softball punched its ticket to the National Championship Game with a 12-4 run-rule thumping of the Odessa Wranglers this afternoon. Hailey Hudson picked up the win in the circle, recording nine strikeouts in four and two-thirds innings.
 
Odessa got on the board with a solo home run by Kawehi Ili in the top of the third.
Ka'Lyn Watson and Jenny Robison led off with back-to-back doubles. Erin Plunkett reached and advanced to second on an error. Riley Rutherford followed with a single to score Robison, and Julia Herzinger singled to score Plunkett. Rutherford came in to score on an error, and Herzinger scored on a single by Maddie Saven.
 
Three more McLennan runs scored in the second. Robison led off with a solo home run. Plunkett doubled and Caitlyn Wong followed with a two-run homer.
 
Watson's solo home run in the bottom of the third made it a 9-1 McLennan lead.
 
The Wranglers scored three in the top of the fourth. Ili was hit by the pitch and Morgan Dutton walked, both scoring on a home run by Ari Ybarra.
 
McLennan sealed the run rule with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Rutherford hit a solo home run. Herzinger then singled and scored on another Wong two-run homer.
 
McLennan's opponent for the championship game will be determined later this evening. Chattanooga State and Florida Southwestern are facing each other in the afternoon game with the winner advancing to this evening's game against Odessa. Tonight's winner will face McLennan Saturday.
 
McLennan 12, Odessa 4
Odessa 100 30 – 4 2 2
McLennan 531 3x – 12 13 1
Fadwa Ben Karim, Rayna Cruickshanks (1), Koral Sylestine (4) and Morgan Dutton. Hailey Hudson, Mattie Wolkow (5) and Julia Herzinger. WP: Hudson; LP: Karim. Leading hitters – Odessa: Kawehi Ili (1-2, HR, RBI) and Ari Ybarra (1-2, HR, 3 RBI); McLennan: Ka'Lyn Watson (2-3, 2B, HR, RBI), Jenny Robison (2-3, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Erin Plunkett (1-3, 2B), Riley Rutherford (2-3, HR, 2 RBI), Julia Herzinger (2-3, RBI), Caitlyn Wong (2-3, 2 HR, 4 RBI) and Maddie Saven (1-2, RBI). Record: McLennan 59-6 (30-2).