The McLennan Highlanders finished as the NJCAA Division I Softball National Runner-up after battling the Indian River State Pioneers in a pair of games.
Indian River State took the opener 6-5 to force the if-necessary game.
The Pioneers scored one run in the bottom of the first. Cassidy Patterson led off with a single and advanced to second on a ground out by Adrianna Portanova. Presley Smith then doubled to score Patterson.
McLennan tied the game with a run in the bottom of he first. Taylor Meier drew the lead-off walk, advanced to second on a sac bunt by Madison Garcia and moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a ground out by Trinity Allen.
Indian River State added two runs in the fourth. J'dah Girigorie singled and Jordyn Lillis walked. Sarah Phipps reached on a fielder's choice, loading the bases. Patterson walked, scoring Girigorie, and Lillis scored on a fielder's choice by Smith
The Highlanders tied the game again with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Garcia singled and stole second, and Allen reached safely on a fielder's choice. Kyla Heine reached on an error, loading the bases. Everyone was safe on a fielder's choice by Reyes, scoring Garcia. Madison Hornback was then hit by the pitch, bringing Allen in to score.
McLennan took the lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth as Meier tripled and score on a sacrifice fly by Garcia.
The Pioneers went back on top with two runs in the top of the sixth. Lillis singled, Phipps doubled and Patterson walked, loading the bases. A Portanova fielder's choice put Lillis out at the plate. Smith then singled to score Phipps and Patterson.
Another Indian River State run scored in the seventh. Lillis, Phipps and Patterson all singled. Portanova then singled to score Lillis.
McLennan rounded out the scoring with a run in the bottom of the seventh. Meier singled and Allen doubled. Heine reached on a fielder's choice, loading the bases. Reyes was then hit by the pitch, scoring Meier.
Indian River State defeated McLennan in the second game 3-0.
The first Pioneer run came in the top of the first as Portanova walked, stole second and third, and scored on an error.
Another run scored in the fourth. Smith singled and Cambrie Todd reached on an error. Maddox Thomas singled, and Smith scored on a fielder's choice by Ciara Gendron.
The final run came in the sixth. Portanova and Smith both singled and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Todd. Portanova then scored on a sacrifice bunt by Thomas.
Indian River State 6. McLennan 5
Indian River State 100 202 1 – 6 12 1
McLennan 100 210 1 – 5 6 0
J'dah Girigorie and Maddox Thomas. Katia Reyes, Taryn Batterton (4) and Kyla Heine. WP: Girigorie; LP: Batterton. Leading hitters – Indian River State. Cassidy Patterson (2-3, RBI), Adrianna Portanova (2-4, RBI), Presley Smith (2-7, 2B, 4 RBI) and Sarah Phipps (2-4, 2B); McLennan: Taylor Meier (2-3, 3B), Madison Garcia (1-2, RBI), Katia Reyes (0-3, 2 RBI), Trinity Allen (2-4, 2B) and Madison Hornback (0-3, RBI). Record: McLennan 61-3 (31-1).
Indian River State 3, McLennan 0
Indian River State 100 101 0 – 3 5 0
McLennan 000 000 0 – 0 6 2
J'dah Girigorie and Maddox Thomas. Brinly Maples and Chesnee Faile. WP: Girigorie; LP: Maples. Leading hitters – Indian River State: Ciara Gendron (0-3, RBI), Presley Smith (2-3) and Maddox Thomas (1-2, RBI); McLennan: Kyla Heine (2-3), Katia Reyes (2-3, 2B) and Trinity Allen (1-3, 2B). McLennan 61-4 (31-1).
