Highlanders top Iowa Western to advance in World Series

The top-seed McLennan Highlander defeated the Iowa Western Reivers 10-2 in five innings in their first game at the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series in Oxford, Alabama, with Taryn Batterton getting the win in the circle.
 
The Highlanders broke the game open with six runs in the bottom of the first inning. Taylor Meier led off with a single and stole second. Madison Garcia singled, and Trinity Allen walked, loading the bases. Kyla Heine followed with a single to score Meier and Garcia. Katia Reyes drew a walk, reloading the bases. Madison Hornback then singled to score Allen, and Chesnee Faile tripled to score Heine and Reyes but Hornback was out at the plate. Faile then scored on a ground out by Mickayla Tosch.
 
Another McLennan run scored in the third as Reyes triples and scored on a double by Hornback.
 
Three more Highlander runs scored in the fourth. Tosch walked and Meier was hit by the pitch, both advancing on a passed ball. Garcia singled to score Tosch, and Allen singled to score Meier and Garcia.
 
Both Iowa Western runs came in the top of the fifth. Mattea Martin singled and scored on a double by Cyndee Schneider. Bree Woodward replaced Schneider as the runner at second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Alex Stoner then singled to score Woodward.