Highlanders slip to Paris in World Series opener

The #10 McLennan Highlanders slipped to the #7 Paris (Texas) Dragons 3-2 in their opening game at the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series in Oxford, Alabama. Olivia Garrett went the distance in the circle for McLennan, giving up just three hits while striking out six.

The Highlander struck early, scoring one in the top of the first inning as Traci Lowry doubled and scored on a single by Kaelani Rogers.

The Dragons tied the game with Grace McDonald's solo homer in the bottom of the inning.

McLennan went up 2-1 with a run in the top of the fifth. Rogers led off with a double and was replaced by pinch runner Lillian Jones. Jone then advanced to third on a ground out by Karaline Smitherman and scored on a single by Lily 1king.

Paris stole the win with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Peyton Peck tripled and was replaced by pinch runner Esmeralda Soto. McDonald followed with a two-run homer.

McLennan moves into the loser's bracket and will play at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday with the opponent to be determined.

#7 Paris 3, #10 McLennan 2
McLennan 100 010 0 – 2 11 0
Paris 100 002 x – 3 3 0
Olivia Garrett and Traci Lowry. Hadison Fults and Kaci Gobert. WP: Fults; LP: Garrett. Leading hitters – McLennan: Traci Lowry (2-4, 2B), Kaelani Rogers (2-4, 2B, RBI), Karaline Smitherman (2-4, 2B) and Lily King (1-4, RBI); Paris: Grace McDonald (2-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI); Record: McLennan 43-15 (0-1).