The McLennan Highlanders opened the 2025 conference season with a doubleheader sweep of the North Central Lions this afternoon at Bosque River Ballpark.
McLennan took game one 4-5 with Kynlei Chapman picking up the win and Cydney Whitacre getting the save.
The Highlander scored first with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Trinity Allen tripled and scored on a single by Aynsli Lawson.
McLennan added three runs in the third. Mickayla Tosch led off with a solo home run. Allen walked and Macie Jansky was hit by the pitch. Lawson's fielder's choice put Allen out at third. Both runners advanced on a ground out by Madison Garcia. Tehya Pitts then reached on an error, scoring Jansky and Lawson.
Both North Central runs came in the top of the fifth. Abagayle Baglin and Abriana Coy both single. Nayani Brown replaced Coy as the runner at first. Kacey White walked, loading the bases. Whitney McClure also walked, scoring Baglin. Kylie Malone hit into a double play, allowing Brown to score.
The Highlanders got the 9-1 run-rule victory in game two with Landrie Davis getting the win in the circle.
McLennan jumped out early, scoring three in the bottom of the first inning. Tosch was hit by the pitch and scored on an Allen double. Lawson then singled to score Allen, and Garcia singled. Both runners advanced on a ground out by Ally Thompson, and Lawson scored on a ground out by MJ Nicholson.
The Lions only run came in the top of the second. Miranda Serrato led off with a double and advanced to third on a ground out by Baglin. White also grounded out, scoring Serrato.
Five More Highlander runs scored in the second. Lilli Piersons singled and Tosch doubled. Allen followed with a single to score Piersons, and Lawson singled to score Tosch and Allen. Lawson advanced on defensive indifference and scored on a triple by Garcia. Nicholson then singled to score Garcia.
McLennan rounded out the scoring with a run in the third as Tosch tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Allen.
The teams will complete the series with a doubleheader at noon Saturday in Gainesville.
McLennan 4, North Central 2
North Central 000 020 0 – 2 4 1
McLennan 103 000 – 4 5 0
Kacey White, Abriana Coy (3), Whitley McClure (5) and Abagayle Baglin. Kynlei Chapman, Cydney Whitacre (6) and Macie Jansky. WP: Chapman; LP: White; SV: Whitacre. Leading hitters – North Central: Whitney McClure (0-2, RBI); McLennan: Mickayla Tosch (1-4, HR, RBI), Trinity Allen (1-3, 3B) and Aynsli Lawson (1-3, RBI). Record: McLennan 17-3 (1-0).
McLennan 9, North Central 1
North Central 010 00 – 1 2 1
McLennan 351 00 – 9 11 0
Kate Krebs, Abriana Coy (2), Kacey White (3) and Abagayle Baglin. Landrie Harris and Lilli Piersons. WP: Harris; LP: Krebs. Leading hitters – North Central: Kacey White (0-1, RBI); McLennan: Mickayla Tosch (2-2, 2B, 3B), Trinity Allen (2-2-, 2B, 3 RBI), Aynsli Lawson (2-3, 2B, 3 RBI), Madison Garcia (2-3,3B, RBI) and MJ Nicholson (1-3, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 18-3 (2-0).
