The No. 5 McLennan Highlanders and Weatherford Coyotes split today's conference doubleheader in Weatherford.
The opening game was a pitcher's duel until the final inning with the Highlanders coming away with the 5-1 victory. Will Clements got the win on the mound and Max Hamilton picked up the save.
Jack Arthur's solo home run in the bottom of the second would be the Coyotes only run of the game.
McLennan tied the game with a run in the top of the third. Rodric Black and Elijah Rodriguez both walked. A fielder's choice by Jason Hawkins put Rodriguez out at second. Cole Dillon then singled to score Black.
The Highlanders sealed the win with four runs in the top of the seventh. Jake D'Altrui walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Rodriguez singled and Hawkins was hit by the pitch to load the bases. Dillon walked, scoring D'Altrui. Richard Brinson came in as a pinch runner for Dillon. Ty Johnson then doubled to score Rodriguez, Hawkins and Brinson.
The nightcap turned into a pitcher's duel as well with Weatherford getting the walk-off 2-1 win.
McLennan scored one in the top of the third. Rodriguez doubled and Johnson singled. Dillon followed with the sacrifice fly to score Rodriguez.
Weatherford tied the game with a run in the bottom of the fourth as Robin Villeneuve led off with a double and scored on a single by Arthur.
The Coyotes scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. Arthur singled and Kanon Sundgren both singled. Josh Romans walked to load the bases. Kevin Duran followed with a single to score Arthur and win the game.
No. 5 McLennan 5, Weatherford 1
McLennan 001 000 4 – 5 5 0
Weatherford 010 000 0 – 1 3 0
Will Clements, Max Hamilton (7) and Jason Hawkins. Trio Banta, Garret McLaughlin (7), Joseph Carbone (7) and Joey Baran. WP: Clements; LP: McLaughlin; SV: Hamilton. Leading hitters – McLennan: Cole Dillon (1-3, 2 RBI) and Ty Johnson (1-3, 2B, 3 RBI); Weatherford: Dayton Tockey (1-2, 2B) and Jack Arthur (1-2, HR, RBI). Record: McLennan 14-5 (1-0).
Weatherford 2, McLennan 1
McLennan 001 000 000 – 1 5 0
Weatherford 000 100 001 – 2 7 0
Blake Hansen, Jackson Mayo (4), Connor Zaruba (8), Will Glatch (9) and Brodey Williams, Jason Hawkins (9). Ryne Rodriguez, Charlie Giese (7) and Kanon Sundgren. WP: Giese; LP: Zaruba. Leading hitters – McLennan: Cole Dillon (1-3, RBI), Xander McAfee (1-3, 2B), Britton Moore (1-2, 2B) and Elijah Rodriguez (1-5, 2B); Weatherford: Robin Villenueve (1-4, 2B) and Jack Arthur (3-4, RBI). Record: McLennan 14-6 (1-1).
Next up: McLennan and Weatherford complete the conference series with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday at Bosque River Ballpark.
