McLennan Softball splits season-opening doubleheader
No. 2 McLennan and No. 14 Chipola split today's doubleheader to open the Battle on the Bosque at Bosque River Ballpark.
Chipola took the opener 11-2 with Katie Reyes taking the loss on the mound for McLennan.
Chipola scored one in the top of the first as Akyndra Montalvo walked, advanced to second on a single by Janelle Martinez, moved to third on an error and scored on the walk of Charity Bibbs.
McLennan took the lead in the second with a two-run homer by Kyla Heine following a Taylor Meier single to lead off the inning.
Chipola tied the game with Amari Brown's lead-off home run in the third.
Rutherford led off the bottom of the third for McLennan with a home run to regain the lead, 3-2.
Three Chipola runs scored in the fourth. Jadyn Burney singled and advanced to third on an error that put Montalvo on first. Martinez followed with a three-run homer.
Another Chipola run scored in the fifth as Ana Cabos doubled and scored on a single by Strozier.
McLennan's final run came in the sixth. Meier and Erin Plunkett both singled. Meier then scored on an error.
Chipola rounded out the scoring with five runs in the top of the seventh. Burney tripled and scored on a ground out by Montalvo. Martinez followed with a home run. Brown walked and Olivia Sasser singled. Bibbs followed with a double to score Brown and Sasser. Bibbs then scored on a single by Hannah Atwood.
McLennan bounced back to take game two 7-2 with Brinly Maples getting the complete-game win in the circle.
The first two McLennan runs came in the top of the second. Kirby singled and Gonzales walked. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a Chipola error.
Two more McLennan runs scored in the third. Meier walked and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Heine. Plunkett then singled to score Meier, and Rutherford singled to score Plunkett.
Chipola scored one in the bottom of the third as Burney walked advanced to second on a line out by Montalvo and scored on a single by Martinez.
McLennan added another run in the fourth. Chesnee Faile singled and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Madison Hornback. Faile then scored on another Chipola error.
Chipola's final run came in the bottom of the sixth. Brown singled and advanced to second on a ground out by Sasser. Atwood then singled to score Brown.
The final two McLennan runs came in the top of the seventh as Heine singled and scored on another Rutherford home run.
McLennan continues play in the Battle on the Bosque Saturday, facing Butler at 2 p.m. and Odessa at 4 p.m.
No. 14 Chipola 11, No. 2 McLennan 4
Chipola 101 310 5 – 11 18 1
McLennan 201 001 0 – 4 8 2
Charity Bibbs, Dymond Roundtree (7) and Janelle Martinez. Katia Reyes, Mattie Wolkow (4) and Matalyn McKinnon. WP: Bibbs; LP: Reyes. Leading hitters – Chipola: Akyndra Montalvo (1-4, RBI), Janelle Martinez (3-5, HR, 2 RBI), Amari Brown (3-4, HR, RBI), Charity Bibbs (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Hannah Atwood (1-5, RBI), Ana Cobas (1-5, 2B) and Kamari Strozier (2-4, RBI); McLennan: Taylor Meier (2-4), Kyla Heine (1-3, HR, 2 RBI), Riley Rutherford (1-2, HR, RBI) and Rose Gonzales (2-3). Record: Chipola 1-0; McLennan 0-1.
No. 2 McLennan 7, No. 14 Chipola 2
McLennan 022 100 2 – 7 10 1
Chipola 001 001 0 – 2 7 2
Brinly Maples and Riley Rutherford. Sydney Watson, Dymond Roundtree (3) and Gracie Suggs. WP: Maples; LP: Roundtree. Leading hitters – McLennan: Erin Plunkett (1-3, RBI), Riley Rutherford (2-4, HR, 3 RBI), Sydney Kirby (2-4, 2B) and Rose Gonzales (1-2, 2B); Chipola: Janelle Martinez (2-4, 2B, RBI). Record: McLennan 1-1; Chipola 1-1.