The No. 3 McLennan Highlanders came away with a walk-off 8-7 win over the No. 18 San Jacinto Gators this afternoon at Bosque River Ballpark. Ryan Messick picked up the win on the mound.
 
San Jacinto began the scoring with a run in the top of the first as Mason Lytle doubled, stole third and scored on a ground out by Armani Sanchez.
 
McLennan tied the game with a run in the bottom of the first as Marquis Jackson walked, advanced around to third on an error and scored on a passed ball.
 
The Highlanders took the lead with three runs in the second. Hank Bard and Izzy Lopez both walked and scored on a double by Rodric Black. Black then advanced to third on an error and scored on a single by Jackson.
 
McLennan added a run with Chase Brown's solo home run in the fifth.
 
Another Highlander run scored in the sixth as Lopez walked, advanced to second on an error, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an error.
 
The Gators added a run in the seventh as Jordan Williams was hit by the pitch, advanced to second on a ground out by Jack Hicks, moved to third on an error and scored on a ground out by Jose Torres.
 
McLennan responded with a run in the bottom of the seventh as Katcher Halligan singled, stole second and scored on a double by Bard.
 
San Jacinto scored four runs in the eighth. Alan Shibley singled, Sabin Ceballos walked and Sanchez reached on an error, loading the bases. Harold Coll followed with a single to score Shibley. RJ Galvan drew a walk, bringing Ceballos in to score. Jordan Williams then singled to score Sanchez and Coll.
 
The Gators tied the game with a run in the ninth. Shibley was hit by the pitch and Ceballos singled. Shibley then scored on a fly out by Sanchez.
 
McLennan sealed the win with a run in the bottom of the ninth as Daniel Altman singled, stole second, and came in to score on a pair of wild pitches.
 
McLennan returns to conference place Wednesday, hosting Weatherford for a noon doubleheader.
 
McLennan 8, San Jacinto 7
San Jacinto 100 000 141 – 7 7 6
McLennan 130 011 101 – 8 8 3
Dillon Janac, Evan Godwin (2), Christian Johnson (7), Tommy DiLandri (8), Miles Hellums (9) and Jose Torres. Zach Cawyer, Cash McNicholas (4), Cooper Hrabeck (5), Logan Freeman (8), Will Glatch (8), Ryan Messick (9) and Hank Bard. WP: Messick; LP: Hrabeck. Leading hitters – San Jacinto: Mason Lytle (1-4, 2B), Alan Shibley (2-4, 2B), Armani Sanchez (0-5, 2 RBI), Harold Coll (3-5, 2B, RBI), RJ Galvan (0-3, RBI), Jordan Williams (1-4, 2 RBI) and Jose Torres (0-2, RBI); McLennan: Marquis Jackson (1-2, RBI), Chase Brown (1-2, HR, RBI), Hank Bard (2-3, 2B, RBI) and Rodric Black (1-3, 2B, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 21-6-1 (7-1).