MCC Highlanders sweep Temple

WACO, Texas — The fourth-ranked McLennan Highlanders swept the Temple Leopards this afternoon at Bosque River Ballpark.

Alex DeLeon picked up the 5-1 complete-game win on the mound for the Highlanders in the opening game.

Temple’s run came in the top of the second as Reid Dalrymple doubled, moved to third on a sacrifice by Hunter Torrez and scored on a ground out by Aaron Krueger.

McLennan took the lead with four runs in the third. Jalen Battles tripled and Jordan Yeatts walked. Cole Moore singled to score Battles. Garrett Martin followed with a three run homer.

The Highlanders rounded out the scoring with a run in the fourth as Aidan Shepardson singled, move to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a ground out by Bishop and scored on a another wild pitch.

Jace Embry took the mound for McLennan in game two and picked up an 11-0 shut-out run-rule victory in five innings.

The Highlanders jumped out early, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first. Yeatts led off with a double, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly by Battles. Moore followed with the solo home run. Martin then singled and scored on Brett Squires’ home run.

McLennan added three runs in the second. Jaylen Williams and walked and scored on a triple by Vince Ippoliti. Ippoliti then scored on a Temple error. Battles followed with a single and scored on a double by Moore.

Another Highlander run scored in the third as Williams doubled and scored on a single by Yeatts.

McLennan scored a run in the fourth as Moore singled and scored on a double by Martin.

The Highlanders sealed the win with two runs in the fifth. Williams, Yeatts and Battles all walked, loading the bases. Moore followed with the two-run walk-off double.

“Overall I’m very pleased with today’s doubleheader sweep of Temple. Any time you get a doubleheader sweep, there has been some good things happening,” head coach Mitch Thompson said. For us, it all starts on the mound. Today we got two really well-pitched ballgames from DeLeon and Embry. They really set the tone, attacked the Temple hitters and put them on their heels a little bit, and our defense made some nice plays behind them.”

“We had some guys with some really big offensive days. Moore with six hits and extra-base hits. Martin had a big day. Yeatts had a big day, and Squires also had a good day. We are getting some quality at-bats up and down our lineup and it’s making us tough to deal with for opposing pitchers.

“I loved how we came out after getting the game-one win and jumped right back on them for came two to set the tone and let them know we were there to get both games today. I like the way we finished the game and got the run rule. Lots of good things happened today and we’ve got to do it again on Saturday and hope we can get another couple well-pitched ballgames.”

McLennan and Temple will complete the four-game series with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday in Temple.