It was a tough opening day for the McLennan Baseball program as the Highlanders dropped both games of the doubleheader with the Angelina Roadrunners in Lufkin.
Angelina picked up a 3-0 shutout in game one with Brett Williams taking the loss on the mound for McLennan. Sean Bergeron got the win for the Roadrunners.
The Roadrunners scored two runs in the fourth inning. Sam Gotlieb drew a walk, and Rylan Meek singled. Alex Ashby followed with a fielder’s choice, putting Gotlieb out at third. Trent Brown then doubled to score Meek and Ashby.
Angelina’s final run of the game came in the fifth inning. Bergeron singled, and Dylan Murphy walked. Euro Diaz then doubled to score Bergeron.
McLennan’s offense came to life in the nightcap, and Angelina needed an extra inning to defeat the Highlanders 6-5. Tanner Brooks took the loss on the mound with the Roadrunners’ Drew Shifflet getting the win.
The Highlanders began the scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning. Jalen Battles doubled and scored on a double by Cole Moore. Brett Squires then doubled to score Moore.
The Roadrunners got on the board with a run in the bottom of the second as Dillon Nesbit singled, moved to second on a ground out by Diaz, and scored on a single by JoJo Munoz.
McLennan added a run in the third as Battles singled and came around to score on a pair of Angelina errors.
Angelina tied the game with back-to-back home runs by Taylor Meaux and Drake Pierson in the bottom of the third.
The Highlanders regained the lead in the fourth. Vince Ippoliti and Spencer Wionzek both walked. Ippoliti then stole third and scored on a fielder’s choice by Kendall Foster.
The Roadrunners scored two in the bottom of the sixth to take a one-run lead. Diaz bunted and Munoz was hit by the pitch. Meek singled to score Diaz, and Trent Brown singled to score Munoz.
McLennan tied the game with Garrett Martin’s solo home run in the top of the seventh.
Angelina stole the win with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Nesbit and Diaz both walked and advanced on a sacrifice hit by Munoz. Nesbit then scored on a passed ball.
The two teams will complete the four-game series with a noon doubleheader tomorrow at Bosque River Ballpark.
