Highlanders & Buccaneers split doubleheader
The McLennan Highlanders and Blinn Buccaneers split today's non-conference softball doubleheader in Brenham
Blinn took game one 4-1 with Taryn Batterton taking the loss in the circle.
Blinn scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Bailey Boetjer and Riley Welker both singled and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Kayden Harms. Boetjer scored on a sacrifice by Darian DeLeon. Welker then scored on a wild pitch.
Two more Buccaneer runs scored in the fifth. Haley Hughes, Erynne Castillo and Alayna Cavillo all singled. Boetjer then reached on an error, scoring Hughes and Castillo.
McLennan's only run came in the top of the seventh. Madison Hornback walked and Mickayla Tosch singled. Ellie Loveless hit into a double play, putting Hornback out. Taylor Meier singled, and Tosch scored on a single by Madison Garcia.
The Highlanders needed a pair of extra innings to defeat the Buccaneers 11-2 in the nightcap with Makenzi Jenkins picking up the win.
Blinn scored its first run in the bottom of the first. Hughes walked and Calvillo singled. Boetjer then singled to score Hughes.
Another Buccaneer run scored in the third. Castillo was hit by the pitch and Calvillo walked. Boetjer then doubled to score Castillo.
McLennan got on the board with a run in the fifth as Aynsli Lawson doubled and scored on a triple by Garcia.
The Highlanders tied the game with a run in the top of the seventh. Aynsli Lawson singled and was replaced by pinch runner Maddie Moore. Garcia doubled and Trinity Allen singled, loading the bases. Moore then scored on a fielder's choice by Katia Reyes.
McLennan broke the game open with nine runs in the ninth inning. Meier reached and advanced to second on an error. Garcia singled, and Meier scored on another error that put Garcia on second. Allen also reached on an error. Allen stole second, and Garcia scored on a wild pitch. Allen scored on an error, and Hornback drew a walk. Hornback advanced around to third on a pair of wild pitches, and Kyla Heine walked. Hornback stole home, and Heine scored on a double by Loveless. Loveless advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Tosch. Lawson then singled to score Loveless, and Meier tripled to score Lawson. Garcia followed with a single to score Meier, and Garcia scored on a double by Allen.
Blinn 4, #1 McLennan 1
McLennan 000 000 1 – 1 8 1
Blinn 000 220 x – 4 10 1
Taryn Batterton and Kyla Heine. Peyton Welker and Madyson Henley. WP: Welker; LP: Batterton. Leading hitters – McLennan: Madison Garcia (3-4, RBI); Blinn: Haley Hughes (3-4), Alayna Calvillo (2-4), Bailey Boetjer (1-4, 2 RBI) and Darian DeLeon (0-2, RBI). Record: McLennan 53-2 (31-1).
#1 McLennan 11, Blinn 2
McLennan 000 100 109 – 11 15 0
Blinn 101 000 000 – 2 6 5
Brinly Maples, Makenzi Jenkins (4) and Chesnee Faile, Kyla Heine. Paige Bunting, Bella DeLosSantos (7), Peyton Welker (9) and Grace Bracken.
WP: Jenkins; LP: Bunting. Leading hitters – McLennan : Taylor Meier (2-6, 3B, RBI), Madison Garcia (4-5, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI), Trinity Allen (2-5, 2B, RBI), Katia Reyes (0-6, RBI), Ellie Loveless (2-4, 2B, RBI) and Aynsli Lawson (3-5, 2B, RBI); Blinn: Bailey Boetjer (2-4, 2 RBI) and Ripley Welker (1-4, 2B). Record: McLennan 54-2 (31-1).