Sixth-ranked Highlanders open the season with victory over Chipola
The sixth-ranked McLennan Highlanders opened the 2024 season with a 9-4 victory over the Chipola Lady Indians in the Battle on the Bosque.
Chipola began the scoring with one run in the top of the first. Kayla Franklin drew a lead-off walk but was out at second on a fielder's choice by Diana Arcay. Lexie Spooner singled, and Arcay scored on a double by Paula Ocrospoma.
McLennan took the lea with two runs in the bottom of the first. Taylor Meier was hit by the pitch, and Madison Hornback walked. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, and Meier scored on a passed ball. Katia Reyes then singled to score Hornback.
Three more Highlander runs scored in the third. Trinity Allen hit a solo home run. Reyes doubled and scored on a triple by Kyle Heine. Chesnee Faile then singled to score Heine.
Chipola's final run came in the top of the fourth as Anyela Ruiz doubled, advanced to third on the dropped third strike of Kayla Franklin, and stole home.
McLennan responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Sarah Johnson and Lilly Rocha were both hit by the pitch. Maddie Moore came in as a pinch runner for Rocha. Both runners advanced on a passed ball. Meier singled and advanced on an error, scoring Johnson, and Moore was out at the plate. Hornback ground out to score Meier, and Allen followed with another solo home run.
The Highlanders added another run in the bottom of the sixth as Johnson singled and score on a double by Rocha.
Chipola rounded out the scoring with two runs in the top o the seventh. Arcay and Amari Brown both singled. Spooner then doubled to score Arcay and Brown.
McLennan will face San Jacinto later this evening.
McLennan 9, Chipola 4
Chipola 100 100 2 – 4 8 1
McLennan 203 301 x – 9 10 1
Josefina Lacalle, Harley Daniels (1), Anyela Ruiz (4) and Lexie Spooner. Taryn Battertacon, Mackenzie Jenkins (6) and Kyla Heine. WP: Batterton; LP: Lacalle. Leading hitters – Chipola: Diana Arcay (2-4), Lexie Spooner (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Paula Ocrospoma (1-3, 2B, RBI) and Anyela Ruiz (1-3, 2B); McLennan: Taylor Meier (1-2, RBI), Madison Hornback (0-2, RBI), Trinity Allen (2-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI), Katia Reyes (2-4, 2B), Kyla Heine (1-3, 3B, RBI), Chesnee Faile (2-3, 2B, RBI) and Lilly Rocha (1-2, 2B, RBI). Record: McLennan 1-0.