The McLennan Highlanders and Hill Rebels split Wednesday's conference doubleheader at Bosque River Ballpark.
Hill defeated McLennan 5-4 in game one with Patrick Herbelin taking the loss on the mound.
The Highlanders began the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Zach Gonzalez was safe on an error, moved to second on a passed ball and advanced to third on a balk. Sydney Daley followed with a double to score Gonzalez. Daley then scored on a single by Evan Williams.
The Rebels scored one run in the top of the third as Garrett Kaiser doubled and scored on a Highlander error.
McLennan added one run in the bottom of the fifth as Andrew Rhodes doubled, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a single by Mason George.
The Highlanders extended their lead with one run in the sixth as Williams doubled and scored on a double by Matt Campbell.
Hill sealed the win with four runs in the top of the seventh. With two outs already on the board, Ben Hollas singled, Kaiser was hit by the pitch and Josh Foster walked to load the bases. Bryce Stark followed with a single that was misplayed by the right fielder, allowing Hollas, Kaiser and Foster all to score. Stark then moved to second on a single by Justin Arrington and scored on a single by Cameron Warner.
McLennan bounced back to defeat the Rebels 14-6 in the nightcap with Nathan Bertness picking up the win on the mound.
Hill scored three runs the top of the first inning. Arrington walked. Warner and Waldemar Ramos both singled to load the bases. Mason Paxton followed with a single, scoring Arrington. Nik Castilleja then doubled to score Warner and Ramos.
The Rebels added one run in the second as Foster doubled and scored on a double by Warner.
The Highlanders cut the lead to two with two runs in the bottom of the second. Rhodes led off with a double and scored on a double by Trevor Podsednik. J.T. Stevenson then singled to score Podsednik.
McLennan took the lead with three runs in the third. Williams singled and scored on a triple by Campbell. Max Hogan drew a walk and Zac Valenzuela singled, scoring Campbell. Podsednik followed with a single. Hogan then scored on a sacrifice fly by Lorenzo Lynch.
The Highlanders added one run in the bottom of the fourth. Stevenson singled and Williams walked. Campbell followed with fielder's choice, putting Stevenson out at third. Hogan followed with a fielder's choice, putting Campbell out at second. Williams then came in to score on a passed ball.
Hill's final two runs came in the top of the fifth. Hollas singled but was out at second on a fielder's choice by Kaiser. Stark followed with a home run.
McLennan added another run in the bottom of the fifth as Podsednik walked, stole second, moved to third on a wild passed ball and scored on a single by Daley.
The Highlanders tacked on two runs in the sixth. Williams singled and scored on a double by Campbell. Hogan and Rhodes both singled, bringing Campbell in to score.
McLennan rounded out the scoring with five runs in the seventh. Daley and Stevenson drew back-to-back walk. Williams was safe at first and moved to second on a Hill error, allowing Daley to score. Hogan then singled to score Stevenson. Rhodes followed with a single to score Williams and Hogan. Valenzuela was hit by the pitch and Podsednik walked. Lynch followed with a fielder's choice to score Rhodes.
The two teams will complete the series with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Hillsboro.
Hill 5, McLennan 4
Hill 001 000 4 – 5 7 2
McLennan 020 011 0 – 4 12 2
Garrett Bruce, Nate Harris (7) and Josh Foster. Sterling Wynn, Patrick Herbelin (6) and Mason George. WP: Bruce; LP: Herbelin. Leading hitters – Hill: Bryce Stark (1-4, 2 RBI), Justin Arrington (2-4, 2B), Cameron Warner (2-4, RBI) and Garrett Kaiser (1-2, 2B); McLennan: Evan Williams (3-4, 2B, RBI), Matt Campbell (2-4, 2B, RBI), Andrew Rhodes (1-4, 2B), Mason George (2-4, RBI) and Sydney Daley (1-2, 2B, RBI). Record: McLennan 18-19 (7-10).
McLennan 14, Hill 6
Hill 310 020 000 – 6 10 2
McLennan 023 112 50x – 14 15 2
Davis Oliver, Christain Bambrook (4), Connor Reed (5), Isaiah Rojas (6), Drew Grimes (7) and Josh Foster, Brandon Gonzalez (8). Enrique Oquendo, Nathan Bertness (3), Conner Camacho (8) and J.T. Stevenson. WP: Bertness; LP: Bambrook. Leading hitters – Hill: Bryce Stark (1-5, HR, 2 RBI), Cameron Warner (2-5, 2B, RBI), Mason Paxton (3-5, 2 2B, RBI), Nik Castilleja (1-3, 2B, 2 RBI) and John Foster (1-3, 2B); McLennan: Evan Williams (2-4), Matt Campbell (2-5, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI), Max Hogan (2-4, RBI), Andrew Rhodes (3-5, 2B, 3 RBI), Zac Valenzuela 91-3, RBI), Trevor Podsednik (2-3, 2B, RBI), Lornezo Lynch (0-3, 2 RBI), Sydney Daley (1-4, RBI) and J.T. Stevenson (2-4, RBI). Record: McLennan 19-19 (8-10).
