The No. 6 McLennan and North Central baseball squads split today's doubleheader in Gainesville.
North Central came from behind to take game one 6-4.
McLennan began the scoring with Aidan Kuni's solo home run in the fourth.
The Highlanders added three runs in the top of the sixth. Elijah Rodriguez led off with a single and advanced on a sac bunt by Jason Hawkins. Ty Johnson singled, and Rodriguez scored on a sacrifice by Britton Moore. Kuni then singled to score Johnson. Xander McAfee singled, and Kuni stole home.
All six North Central runs came in the bottom of the sixth. Austin Wallace and Jos Phillips both singled. Taylor Phillips reached on an error, allowing Wallace to score. Jackson Juvera singled to score J. Phillips. Pierce Gisler reached on an error, scoring T. Phillips and Juvera. Riley Sands walked, and Gabriel Colina singled to score Gisler and Sands.
McLennan bounced back to defeat North Central 11-1 in game two with Blake Hansen getting the win on the mound. Hansen got the start, recording 11 strikeouts while allowing just three hits in five innings.
The Highlanders scored their first three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Moore walked and Hansen doubled. Brodey Williams followed with a single to score Moore, and Katcher Halligan singled to score Hansen. A sacrifice bunt by Rodric Black brought Williams in to score.
Two more McLennan runs cored in the fifth. Johnson was hit by the pitch, stole second and advanced to third on an error. Moore singled to score Johnson. Moore then stole third and scored on a single by Hansen.
North Central's only run came in the bottom of the sixth. Colina walked, stole second and advanced to third on an error. J. Phillips then grounded out to score Colina.
The Highlanders added three runs in the seventh. Johnson singled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Kuni. Moore was hit by the pitch and both runners advanced on a passed ball. Kuni scored on a ground out by Hansen, and Moore scored on a fly out by Williams.
McLennan rounded out the scoring with three runs in the top of the ninth. Kuni and Moore were both hit by the pitch. A fielder's choice by Hansen put Moore out at second. Hansen stole second and Kuni stole home. McAfee then reached on an error, scoring Hansen. Black singled, and Jake D'Altrui singled to score McAfee.
North Central 6, McLennan 4
McLennan 000 103 0 – 4 7 2
North Central 000 006 x – 6 7 1
Will Clements, Will Glatch (6) and Jason Hawkins. Charles Mooney, Josh Phillips (7) and Pierce Gisler. WP: Mooney; LP: Glatch. Leading hitters – McLennan: Britton Moore (0-2, RBI), Aidan Kuni (3-3, HR, 2 RBI) and Xander McAfee (2-3); North Central: Austin Wallace (2-3), Josh Phillips (2-3), Taylor Phillips (0-3, RBI), Jackson Juvera (1-3, RBI) and Pierce Gisler (0-3, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 22-8 (6-3).
McLennan 11, North Central 1
McLennan 000 320 303 – 11 8 2
North Central 000 001 000 – 1 5 3
Blake Hansen, Jackson Mayo (6), Max Hamilton (8), Trey Cehajic (8) and Brodey Williams. Tobin Oler, Trent Nickerson (5), Justin May (7), James Laird (9) and Luke Capel. WP: Hansen; LP: Oler. Leading hitters – McLennan: Aidan Kuni (1-4, RBI), Britton Moore (1-2, RBI), Blake Hansen (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Brodey Williams (1-5, 2 RBI), Katcher Halligan (1-2, RBI), Rodric Black (1-3, RBI) and Jake D'Altrui (1-4, RBI); North Central: Austin Wallace (2-4) and Josh Phillips (0-3, RBI). Record: McLennan 23-8 (7-3).
