McLennan Highlanders come from behind to stay alive in tournament
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | X | 6 | 7 | 2 |
The McLennan Highlanders came from behind to defeat the New Mexico Thunderbirds 6-5 to stay alive in the Region V Tournament in Midland. Jared Matheson picked up the win on the mound for the Highlanders in relief of starter Devin Bennett.
New Mexico began the scoring with two runs in the top of the first as Aaron Lugo doubled and scored on a Jesse Herrera home run.
The Thunderbirds added a run in the second as Christian Hoffman reached on an error, advanced to second on a single by Lorenzo Morresi and scored on a single by Lugo.
Another New Mexico run scored in the top of the third on a Luiz Gonzalez home run.
McLennan's first run came in the bottom of the third as Marquis Jackson doubled, stole third and scored on a ground out by Ty Johnson.
Cole Fontenelle's solo home run for the Highlanders in the sixth cute the New Mexico lead to two, 4-2.
McLennan took the lead with three runs in the seventh. Daniel Altman walked and Izzy Lopez was hit by the pitch. Jackson walked, load the bases. Hunter Grimes followed with a bases-clearing triple.
New Mexico tied the game with a run in the top of the eighth. Stanley Tucker doubled and advanced to third on a ground out by Kade Benavidez. Tucker then scored on a sacrifice fly by Camden Melvin.
The Highlanders sealed the win with another solo home run by Fontenelle in the bottom of the eighth.
McLennan advances in the elimination bracket and will face either Howard or Weatherford at 8 p.m. Sunday evening.
McLennan 6, New Mexico 5
New Mexico 211 000 010 – 5 8 0
McLennan 001 001 31x – 6 7 2
Gerardo Grijalva, Fernando Gonzalez (7), JT Tackett (8) and Luis Gonzalez. Devin Bennett, Jared Matheson (8) and Jason Hawkins. WP: Matheson; LP: Gonzalez. Leading hitters – New Mexico: Aaron Lugo (2-5, 2B, RBI), Jesse Herrera (1-4, HR, 2 RBI), Luis Gonzalez (2-3, 2B, HR, RBI) and Camden Melvin (0-3, RBI); McLennan: Marquis Jackson (1-3, 2B), Hunter Grimes (2-3, 3B, 3 RBI), Ty Johnson (0-4, RBI), Cole Fontenelle (2-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI) and Izzy Lopez (1-3, 2B). Record: McLennan 45-11-1 (28-4).