McLennan Softball came away with a pair of wins over Hill this afternoon at Bosque River Ballpark to open conference play. The two wins came in completely different fashion, one a walk-off run rule and the other a come-from-behind thriller.
McLennan dominated Hill in game one, getting the 8-0 run-rule victory in six innings. Makenzi Jenkins got the win in the circle, holding Hill to two hits while striking out five.
The first two runs came in the bottom of the second. Sydney Kirby hit a solo home run. Chesnee Faile was hit by the pitch, Taylor Meier drew a walk and Celeste Aguilar singled to load the bases. Rachel Wicker then singled to score Faile.
McLennan added four runs in the fourth. Meier walked and Aguilar followed with a fielder's choice. Erin Plunkett single to score Meier. Rose Gonzales then single to score Aguilar, and Riley Rutherford doubled to score Plunkett and Gonzales.
Two runs in the sixth sealed the victory. Rutherford was hit by the pitch and replaced by Madison Hornback to run. Kyle Heine singled. Sydney Kirby single to score Hornback, and Heine scored on an error to end the game.
McLennan came from behind to defeat Hill 8-6 in game two with Katia Reyes getting the win and Mattie Wolkow picking up the save.
Hill scored four runs in the top of the first inning. Mallory Stone doubled and Kelsey Creech singled. Mackenzie Duckworth followed with a single to score Stone, and Eileigh Whyte doubled to score Creech. Jayce Bolin and Reagyn Trahan walked, loading the bases. Whyte scored on a passed ball, and Brianna Trevino walked. Bolin then scored on a wild pitch.
McLennan got on the board with a run in the third inning as Heine was hit by the pitch and scored on a triple by Wicker.
Another McLennan run scored in the fourth with Faile's solo home run.
McLennan took the lead with five runs in the fifth. Plunkett singled and scored on another Wicker triple. Rutherford followed with a two-run homer. Gonzales pinch hit for Meier and drew a walk. Meier replaced Gonzales as the runner at first. Faile then triple to score Meier, and Reyes singled to score Faile.
The final McLennan run came in the sixth with a Rutherford solo home run.
Hill rounded out the scoring with two runs in the top of the seventh. Stone, Creech and Duckworth all walked, loading the bases. Stone scored on a ground out by Whyte. Bailey Hernandez then singled to score Creech.
McLennan 8, Hill 0
Hill 000 000 – 0 2 1
McLennan 020 402 – 8 8 0
Chloe Randall and Bailey Hernandez. Makenzi Jenkins and Riley Rutherford. WP: Jenkins; LP: Randall. Leading hitters – McLennan: Erin Plunkett (1-4, RBI), Rachel Wicker (1-4, RBI), Rose Gonzales (1-3, RBI), Riley Rutherford (1-3, 2B, 2 RBI), Sydney Kirby (2-4, HR, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 14-5 (1-0).
McLennan 8, Hill 6
Hill 400 000 2 – 6 7 0
McLennan 001 151 x – 8 11 0
Eileigh Whyte, Catalina Sanchez (5), Karolyn Carter (7) and Mackenzie Duckworth. Brinly Maples, Katia Reyes (1), Mattie Wolkow (7) and Madelyn McKinnon, Riley Rutherford (7). WP: Reyes; LP: Whyte; SV: Wolkow. Leading hitters – Hill: Kelsey Creech (2-3), Mackenzie Duckworth (1-3, RBI), Eileigh Whyte (1-3, 2B, 2 RBI), Bailey Hernandez (1-1, RBI), Bentleigh Inocencio (1-4, 2B) and Mallory Stone (1-3, 2B); McLennan: Erin Plunkett (2-4), Rachel Wicker (2-4, 2 3B, 3 RBI), Riley Rutherford (2*4, 2 HR, 3 RBI), Chesnee Faile (2-3, 3B, HR, 2 RBI) and Katia Reyes (2-3, 2B, RBI). Record: McLennan 15-5 (2-0).
