McLennan Softball picked up a pair of conference victories over the Vernon Chaparrals at Bosque River Ballpark.
McLennan took game one 7-5 with Makenzi Jenkins getting the complete-game victory in the circle.
Vernon's first three runs came in the top of the third inning. Cassandra Cavazos singled and Savannah Pemberton drew a walk. Abbie Bird followed with a three-run homer.
McLennan scored all seven runs in the fourth inning. Madison Hornback led off with a single and Rachel Wicker walked. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a triple by Chesnee Faile. Taylor Meier then doubled to score Faile. Madelyn McKinnon reached on an error, Kyla Heine walked and Meier scored. Emma Bradley-Tse replaced McKinnon as the runner at second. Bradley-Tse then advanced to third on a wild pitch, and Erin Plunkett then singled to score Bradley-Tse and Heine. Plunkett stole second and advanced to third on a sac bunt by Jalie Neff. Riley Rutherford wat hit by the pitch, and Plunkett stole home.
Vernon added two runs in the sixth. Mia Garcia (freshman) led off with a single, and Mia Garcia (sophomore) doubled. Abby Bates singled to score freshman Garcia, and sophomore Garcia scored on a sacrifice fly by Casey Driver.
McLennan got the 13-2 run-rule win in game two with Mattie Wolkow in the circle.
McLennan began the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the first. Plunkett singled and scored on a double by Hornback. Hornback then advanced to third on a fly out by Rutherford and scored on a ground out by Meier.
Three more McLennan runs scored in the second. Sydney Kirby and Katia Reyes both singled. Heine followed with a sac fly to score Kirby, and Plunkett was hit by the pitch. Hornback then singled to score Reyes, and Plunkett scored on a wild pitch.
Vernon's two runs came in the third. Mia Garcia (sophomore) and Allie Hammond both singled and advanced
McLennan responded with four runs in the bottom of the third. Meier singled and Wicker walked. Faile followed with a single to score Meier, and Wicker stold home. Kirby walked but was out at second on a fielder's choice by Reyes. Reyes stole second, and Plunkett singled to score Faile and Reyes.
Four more McLennan runs scored in the fourth. Rutherford and Meier both walked, and Rachel Wicker singled to load the bases. Rutherford scored on a wild pitch, and Meier and Wicker both scored on a sac fly by Faile. Kirby and Brinly Maples both walked, and Plunkett doubled to score Kirby.
McLennan 7, Vernon 5
Vernon 003 002 0 – 5 10 2
McLennan 000 70x – 7 5 0
Abbie Bird and Casey Driver. Makenzi Jenkins and Madelyn McKinnon. WP: Jenkins; LP: Bird. Leading hitters – Vernon: Savannah Pemberton (2-3), Jordan Jones (2-4), Abbie Bird (1-4, HR, 3 RBI), Mia Garcia (SO) (2-4, 2B), Abby Bates (1-2. RBI) and Casey Driver (0-2, RBI); McLennan: Erin Plunkett (1-2, 2 RBI), Chesnee Faile (1-3, 3B, 2 RBI) and Taylor Meier (1-3, 2B, RBI). Record: McLennan 21-8 (7-2).
McLennan 13, Vernon 2
Vernon 002 00 – 2 3 0
McLennan 234 4x – 13 10 1
Mattie Wolkow and Riley Rutherford. Ryleigh Ashford, Jaelynn Huerta (3), Abbie Bird (4) and Jasmine Canales. WP: Wolkow; LP: Ashford. Leading hitters – Vernon: Savannah Pemberton (1-2, 2B, RBI); McLennan: Erin Plunkett (3-3, 2B, 3 RBI), Madison Hornback (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Taylor Meier (1-2, RBI), Chesnee Faile (1-2, 3 RBI) and Kyla Heine (0-1, RBI). Record: McLennan 22-8 (8-2).
