The #3 McLennan Highlander and #5 Grayson Vikings split today's softball conference doubleheader at Grayson.
Grayson came from behind to take the opener 4-2 with Kynlei Chapman taking the loss in the circle for McLennan.
The Highlanders scored one run in the third. Madison Garcia reached on an error to lead off the inning and advanced on a ground out by Mickayla Tosch. Trinity Allen then singled to score Garcia.
MJ Nicholson's solo home run in the fourth made it a two-run McLennan lead.
The Vikings got on the board with a run in the fifth. Matti Matthews doubled and Aniyah Pequeno singled. Matthews then scored on a ground out by Layne Reh.
Grayson stole the win with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Halle Giaudrone and Sophia Jenkins both singled. Abby Wood then walked to load the bases. Matthews singled to score pinch runner Monica Franklin, and Pequeno singled to score Jenkins. Reh then drew a walk, scoring Wood.
McLennan bounced back to take game two 4-1 with Natalie Klenda in the circle.
A Sophia Jenkins home run in the second gave the Vikings the early lead.
McLennan tied the game with a run in the fourth. Tosch and Lilli Piersons both singled. Aynsli Lawson then singled to score Tosch.
The Highlanders took the lead with Allen's three-run homer in the fifth following singles by Tehya Pitts and Tosch.
The teams will complete the four-game series with a noon doubleheader Saturday in Waco.
#5 Grayson 4, #3 McLennan 2
McLennan 001 100 0 – 2 7 0
Grayson 000 013 x – 4 8 2
Kynlei Chapman, Cydney Whitacre (6) and Macie Jansky. Delilah Robles and Halle Giaudrone. WP: Robles; LP: Chapman. Leading hitters – McLennan: Tehya Pitts (2-4, 2B), Trinity Allen (1-3, RBI), Mickayla Tosch (1-3, 2B) and MJ Nicholson (2-3, HR, RBI); Grayson: Layne Reh (0-2, 2 RBI), Matti Matthews (3-3, 2B, RBI) and Aniyah Pequeno (3-3, RBI). Record: McLennan 28-4 (12-1).
#3 McLennan 4, #5 Grayson 1
McLennan 000 130 0 – 4 8 1
Grayson 010 000 0 – 1 4 0
Natalie Klenda and Lilli Piersons. Macey Jones, Riley Mays (6) and Halle Giaudrone. WP: Klenda; LP: Jones. Leading hitters – McLennan: Mickayla Tosch (2-4), Trinity Allen 1-3, HR, 3 RBI) and Aynsli Lawson (1-3, RBI); Grayson: Sophia Jenkins (2-3, HR, RBI). Record: McLennan 29-4 (13-1).
