Posted: Mar 16, 2021
Righthander Chad Ricker and three Bulldogs relievers combined on a four-hit shutout as 14th-ranked Navarro smothered McLennan 8-0 in a non-conference game at Perry D. Graham Field.
Ricker allowed the Highlanders three hits and three walks while striking out five during a 99-pitch, six-inning start, before Patrick Kudelka, Micah Burke and Seth Foster combined for three innings of one-hit relief with four strikeouts.
Coach Matt Podjenski successfully shuffled his lineup with fresh personnel and they all produced in the big win over Mitch Thompson's Highlanders.
Navarro's first two runs came in the bottom of the first. Zac Vooletich reached on an error and Ethan Ruiz walked. Vooletich scored on a ground out by Alex Vergara, and Ruiza scored on a wild pitch.
The Bulldogs added a run in the third as Cal Stark doubled and scored on a single by Nico Patrick.
Four more Navarro runs scored in the fifth. Austin Eaton walked and scored on Weston Valasek's home run. Joel Shea and Austin Thorp both walked. Weston Symes was hit by the pitch, loading the bases. Vooletich then singled to score Shea and Thorp.
The final Bulldog run came in the eighth as Vooletich walked, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Vergara.
Navarro's won seven of its last eight and nine of its last 11 games, heading into the resumption of the conference weekend series -- a nine-inning single game at 1 pm Thursday against the Tyler Apaches at Mike Carter Field. Navarro and TJC are scheduled to play a doubleheader here Saturday.
MCC (10-10) currently shares the Region V NTJCAC lead with Hill and Vernon. MCC dropped from NJCAA Top 20 ranking last week after suffering losses in six of seven contests, but bounced back to claim three wins in its four-game weekend series against the Cisco Wranglers. The Highlanders won seven-inning games Saturday at Cisco, 9-5, and 15-7.
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NAVARRO 8, McLENNAN 0 -- FINAL
SCORE BY INNINGS…………...R-H-E (LOB)
McLennan……000....000....000 -- 0-4-2 (LOB 6)
Navarro……….201....040....01X -- 8-7-0 (LOB 10)
PITCHING:
W -- Chad Ricker. L -- Kevin Skweres
NC -- Ricker, Kudelka (7), Burke (8), Foster (9). MCC -- Skweres, Weeks (3), Freeman (5), Brinson (5), Wideman (7), Hicks (8), Williams (8).
BATTING
2B: Cal Stark, Alex Vergara
HR: Weston Valasek
ROE: Zac Vooletich
HBP: Ethan Ruiz, Weston Symes 2
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JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL MONDAY
Non-Conference Games
Tyler 22, Jarvis Christian 3
Grayson 17, Northeast Texas 4
Temple 10, Blinn 5
Navarro 8, McLennan 0
Wharton at LSU-Eunice, 4 pm
Panola at Centenary JV, 6 pm
