The McLennan Highlanders picked up a win and a loss on opening day of the JUCO Extravaganza in Oxford, Alabama.
The Highlanders fell to the Wallace State Lions 14-2 in the first game of the day with Natalie Klenda taking the loss on the mound.
Five Lion runs scored in the top of the first. Kaelyn Jones singled and Tenayja Thomas followed with a fielder's choice. Brandy Phillips also singled, loading the bases. Charli Kyse reached on an error, scoring Jones. Brooklynn Sertell also reached on an error, scoring Thomas and Phillips. Blakelyn Austin singled, and Kyser scored on a sacrifice fly by Leah Graves. Sertell then scored on a fielder's choice by Lexie Kelly.
Wallace State added three runs in the second. Phillips was hit by the pitch and Kyser reached on an error. Sertell followed with a three-run homer.
Another Lion run scored in the fourth. Ashlyn Burns reached on an error. Jones and Thomas both singled, loading the bases. Burns then scored on a ground out by Kyser.
Both McLennan runs scored in the bottom of the fifth. Ally Thompson walked and MJ Nicholson doubled. Mickayla Tosch then singled to score Thompson, and Trinity Allen doubled to score Nicholson.
Wallace State rounded out the scoring with five runs in the sixth. Kelly and Burns both singled. Kelly was out at third on a fielder's choice by Jones. Thomas singled to score Burns, and Phillips reached on an error, scoring Jones. Kyser followed with a three-run homer.
The afternoon game was a battle of the Highlanders with McLennan getting the 12-1 run-rule victory over the Gordon State Highlanders. Addyson Canfield got the win in the circle.
McLennan scored one run in the first. Macie Jansky walked and Aynsli Lawson singled. Madison Garcia then singled to score Jansky.
Five McLennan runs scored in the second. Nicholson singled and Alyssa Moreno walked. Tosch followed with a double to score both runners. Jansky then singled to score Tosch. Lawson singled and stole second as Jansky stole home. Lawson then scored on a single by Tehya Pitts.
Another two McLennan runs score in the top of the third as Nicholson doubled and scored on Moreno's triple.
Gordon State's only run came in the bottom of the third. Katie Lemonds reached on an error but was caught stealing. Lauren Wilcher and Faith Southern both singled. Abbie Havard then singled to score Wilcher.
McLennan added a run in the fourth. Garcia and Pitts both singled and stole second. Thompson then grounded out, scoring Garcia.
Three McLennan runs in the fifth rounded out the scoring. Moreno walked and Tosch singled, both scoring on a triple by Jansky. Lawson's sacrifice fly then brought Jansky in to score.
Wallace State 14, McLennan 2
Wallace State 531 005 –14 12 1
McLennan 000 020 – 2 7 5
Madeline Howard and Brooklynn Sertell. Natalie Klenda, Haley Noska (3), Cydney Whitacre (6) and Lilli Piersons. WP: Howard; LP: Klenda. Leading hitters – Wallace State: Kaelyn Jones (3-5), Tenayja Thomas (2-5, RBI), Charli Kyser (1-5, HR, 5 RBI), Brooklyn Sertell (1-3, HR, 5 RBI), Leah Graves (0-3, RBI) and Lexie Kelly (2-4, RBI). Record: McLennan 13-3.
McLennan 12, Gordon State 1
McLennan 152 13 – 12 14 1
Gordon State 001 00 – 1 5 2
Autumn Hinkley, Kaylee MacDonald (2) and Abbie Havard. Addyson Canfield and Macie Jansky. WP: Canfield; LP: Hinkley. Leading hitters – McLennan: Mickayla Tosch (3-4, 2B, 3 RBI), Macie Jansky (2-3, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI), Aynsli Lawson (2-3, RBI), Madison Garcia (2-3, RBI), Tehya Pitts (2-2, RBI), Ally Thompson (0-3, RBI), MJ Nicholson (2-3, 2B) and Alyssa Moreno (1-1, 3B, RBI); Gordon State: Abbie Havard (2-2, RBI). Record: McLennan 14-3.
