No. 9 McLennan Softball completed the four-game series sweep of North Central with a pair of wins this afternoon at Bosque River Ballpark.
Game one was an 11-3 walk-off run-rule win with Brinly Maples in the circle for McLennan
North Central struck first with a Gabbi Smith solo home run in the top of the first.
The other two North Central runs came in the top of the third. Delanie Scott singled and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by BreAnna Beste. Lauryn Davies then doubled to score Scott. Davies moved to third on a ground out by Smith, and scored on a single by Raylea Parsons.
McLennan took the lead with six runs in the bottom of the third. Kyla Heine walked, stole second and scored on a single by Erin Plunkett. Plunkett advanced to third on a fly out by Madison Hornback and scored on a single by Riley Rutherford. A fielder's choice by Taylor Meier put Rutherford out at second. Rachel Wicker then tripled to score Meier. Chesnee Faile followed with a single to score Wicker, and Maples hit a two-run homer.
Two more McLennan runs scored in the fourth. Plunkett doubled and scored on a double by Hornback. Meier then doubled to score Hornback.
McLennan secured the run rule with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Wicker singled and Maples walked. Destiny Menchaca came in as the pinch runner for Maples, and Madelyn McKinnon walked, loading the bases. Wicker was out at home on fielder's choice by Heine. Plunkett walked to score Menchaca, and McKinnon scored on a wild pitch. Hornback then singled to score Heine and end the game.
Katia Reyes picked up the 8-1 game two win in the circle for McLennan.
North Central's only run came in the top of the first as Davies led off with a double, moved to third on a single by Smith and stole home.
McLennan took the lead with three runs in the second. Meier singled, Wicker doubled and Heine walked to load the bases. All three runners then scored on a double by Plunkett.
McLennan added a run in the third. Rutherford single and Sydney Kirby walked, both advancing on a sacrifice bunt by Meier. Rutherford then scored on a sacrifice fly by Wicker.
Another McLennan run scored in the fourth as Plunkett walked, stole second and scored on a triple by Hornback.
McLennan plated one more in the fifth. Meier singled and Wicker was hit by the pitch. Both runners stole a base, and Meier scored on a sacrifice fly by Reyes.
The final two runs came in the sixth as Rutherford walked and Kirby followed with a two-run homer to left field.
McLennan 11, North Central 3
North Central 102 00 – 3 5 0
McLennan 006 23 – 11 12 0
Maddie Strickling, Alliana Bryant (4), Alexis Tanguma (5) and Laci Winchester. Brinly Maples and Madelyn McKinnon. WP: Maples; LP: Strickling. Leading hitters – North Central: Lauryn Davies (1-3. 2B, RBI) and Gabbi Smith (1-3, HR, RBI); McLennan: Erin Plunkett (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI), Madison Hornback (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Riley Rutherford (1-3, RBI), Taylor Meier (1-2, 2B, RBI), Rachel Wicker (3-3, 2B, RBI) and Brinly Maples (1-2, HR, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 27-8 (13-2).
McLennan 8, North Central 1
North Central 100 000 0 – 1 3 0
McLennan 031 112 x – 8 7 1
Alexis Tanguma and Kalie Kilmer. Katia Reyes, Mattie Wolkow (7) and Riley Rutherford. WP: Reyes; LP: Tanguma. Leading hitters – North Central: Lauryn Davies (1-4, 2B); McLennan: Erin Plunkett (1-3, 2B, 3 RBI), Madison Hornback (1-4, 3B, RBI), Sydney Kirby (1-3, HR, 2 RBI), Taylor Meier (2-3), Rachel Wicker (1-2, 2B, RBI) and Katia Reyes (0-2, RBI). Record: McLennan 28-8 (14-2).
