The #4 McLennan Highlanders completed their first four-game conference series sweep with a pair of wins today in Gainesville over the North Central Lions.
McLennan took the opener 4-3 with Natalie Klenda getting the win in the circle.
The Highlanders struck first, scoring one tun in the top of the fourth. Aynsli Lawson singled and advanced on a ground out by Madison Garcia. Ally Thompson walked, and Lawson scored on a wild pitch.
McLennan added two runs with back-to-back home runs by MJ Nicholson and Ellie Loveless to lead off the top of the fifth.
Another Highlander run scored in the sixth. Garcia led off with a single and stole second. Lilli Piersons singled, and Garcia scored on a single by Tehya Pitts.
The Lions scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Abriana Coy singled and was replace by pinch runner Faith Ario-Ramirez. Riley Lee then doubled to score Ario-Ramirez. Lee then scored on a sacrifice fly by Abby Baglin.
The final North Central run came in the bottom of the seventh. Kylie Malone walked and Payton Blanco singled. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Mickyna Lindsey. Malone then scored on a sac fly by Coy.
In game two, the Highlanders defeated the Lions 7-1 with Addyson Canfield picking up the win.
North Central scored a run in the bottom of the first as Malone walked, stole second advanced to third on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Lee.
McLennan took the lead with three runs in the third. Nicholson singled and was replaced by pinch runner Delanie Roeder. Roeder advanced on a sac bunt by Loveless, and Mickayla Tosch singled. Trinity Allen doubled to score Roeder, and Garcia reached on an error, bringing Allen in to score.
Four more Highlander runs scored in the fourth. Nicholson doubled and scored on a single by Loveless. Tosch walked and Allen followed with a three-run homer.
McLennan 4, North Central 3
McLennan 000 121 0 – 4 8 1
North Central 000 002 1 – 3 6 0
Natalie Klenda, Haley Noska (7), Kynlei Chapman (7) and Lilli Piersons. Whitney McClure, Abriana Coy (5) and Abby Baglin. WP: Klenda; LP; McClure. Leading hitters – McLennan: Ally Thompson (1-2, 3B), Tehya Pitts (1-3, RBI), MJ Nicholson (1-3, HR, RBI) and Ellie Loveless (1-3, HR, RBI); North Central: Kylie Malone (1-2, 2B), Abriana Coy (1-3, RBI) and Riley Lee (1-3, 2B). Record: McLennan 19-3 (3-0).
McLennan 7, North Central 1
McLennan 003 400 0 – 7 11 2
North Central 100 000 0 – 1 3 1
Addyson Canfield, Haley Noska (5), Cydney Whitacre (7) and Macie Jansky. Kacey White, Whitney McClure (4), Kate Krebs (6) and Mickyna Lindsey. WP: Canfield; LP: White. Leading hitters – McLennan: Trinity Allen (3-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI), MJ Nicholson (3-4, 2B) and Ellie Loveless (1-2, RBI); North Central: Riley Lee (0-2, RBI). Record: McLennan 20-3 (4-0).
