As it stands, TC’s doing pretty well at 14-4 for first place in the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference standings.
A Temple defensive breakdown led to a five-run sixth inning that sparked rival McLennan to a 7-6 win in Saturday’s first game, but the Leopards responded with balanced hitting and Lee Colon’s brilliant pitching to dominate the Highlanders 9-0 for a doubleheader split.
After settling for a disappointing home split with last-place Vernon on Wednesday, TC moved to 29-10 overall and 14-4 in the NTJCAC by going 1-1 against McLennan (19-20, 11-7).
“It is (frustrating),” McMurtry said of his club’s 2-2 record for the week. “I told the guys, ‘We let two games slip away this week.’ They understand that we let one slip away from us today.”
In the seven-inning opener, Ryan Meade hit a solo home run in the second inning and a two-run shot in the fourth to help stake Paul Spinn (6-1) to a 5-2 lead entering the bottom of the sixth. But a Meade error let a run score, shortstop Mike Lowery couldn’t convert a one-out grounder into a double play, and right fielder Korey Wacker’s strong throw got past catcher Doug Oney, letting in the tying and go-ahead runs. Chad McLin gave up an RBI single to make it 7-5, and TC got a Lowery sacrifice fly but nothing else in the seventh.
However, the Leopards had a strong answer in the nine-inning finale. They took a 1-0 lead in the second, scored two runs apiece in the fourth and sixth and added three in the seventh.
That was more than enough support for freshman left-hander Colon (8-0), who set the tone in the first by stranding a runner who had reached third base with no outs. He permitted four hits and had six strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings before relievers Sam Cordero and Jake Bidelman finished.
“Lee did a good job and shut them down,” McMurtry said. “He had both his fastball and curveball working and threw a lot of strikes.”
On a negative note, Oney was hit in the face by a pitch as he squared to bunt and suffered two broken teeth and a split lip. McMurtry said Oney likely will miss at least two weeks.
The Leopards will host North Central Texas - which swept TC in Gainesville on March 7 - in a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
