FORT WORTH — FIfty-nine innings weren’t enough to determine which team was better, so the McLennan Community College and Temple College baseball teams added four more.

With one swing of the bat, Temple catcher Collin Janssen answered the question.

Teammates mob Temple College’s Collin Janssen after his walk-off home run in the 13th inning.
Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald

His 13th-inning walk-off home run carried the Leopards to a 6-5 championship victory, a trip to the national tournament in Grand Junction, Colo., and swiftly ended MCC’s dream run through the Region V tournament at LaGrave Field.

“This is going to take an awful long time for me to let it go,” coach Pete Mejia said. “. . . But me and the returning players will take it and apply it and get better. We’re going to have to get better.”

MCC (37-23) had split with the Leopards in Waco, Temple and at the tournament in Fort Worth. Just as in the regular season, Temple got the best of MCC in the end.

Starting pitcher Collin Reynolds threw 6 1/3 solid innings, holding off the Leopards while MCC built a 5-1 lead. The Highlanders looked well on their way toward their first national tournament since 1983.

Then Reynolds unraveled as his pitch count rose, and Temple rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning. On his second pitch in the inning, he gave up a home run to Colten Boothe, the game’s first walk and a single.

It startled MCC, as closer Ryan Turner had just started warming up. He entered inaccurate, allowing an RBI single and a wild pitch for runs. An additional error brought home the third run before he zeroed in on the plate.

Temple’s Collin Janssen drops his bat and watches his 13th-inning drive sail out of LaGrave Field in Fort Worth, sending the Leopards to a 6-5 win and a berth in the junior college national tournament.
Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald

But Turner threw the rest of the game, surrendering six hits, one run, three walks and earning three strikeouts.

“I think (Reynolds) ran out of gas a little bit,” Mejia said. “They got some momentum just like we did. Then it was just a matter of who was going to stay in there and fight.”

MCC didn’t start the game well. The Highlanders went through the first 3 2/3 innings before making it on base. Shortstop Garrett Carey broke MCC’s streak of 11 futile batting attempts with a single in the fourth, but reinjured his hamstring. He didn’t need any speed that inning as Mat Beasley sent the day’s first home run to left-center field.

But it hampered him through the rest of the game. After Hunter Bailey’s double led off the fifth inning, and Carey advanced him. Carey should have made base after the second baseman’s bobble, but his hamstring kept him from running full speed. Beasley then earned an RBI after the second baseman lost his pop-up in the sun.

Mejia also held Carey at second on a key play in the top of the 12th. After earning a walk, he rounded second on Clayton Rabbe’s single to right field. Mejia held up his hand and Carey retreated.

The next batter hit a fly ball to the left-field warning track, but Carey wasn’t in position to tag and score.

“When you lose your legs, you’re going to have it affect you. It affected him,” Mejia said.

As the game progressed into double-digit innings, the sparse crowd’s cheers turned to gasps. Both squads escaped back-to-back bases-loaded situations, while Temple survived two near home runs on the warning track. Bailey nabbed a high bouncing hit at second base in the bottom of the 10th, keeping the second base runner from turning the third-base corner.

MCC’s Clayton Rabbe makes a game-saving catch in right field to end the 12th inning with a Temple runner at third base.
Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald

Rightfielder Rabbe made a sliding catch in the 12th to keep the third base runner from scoring.

“The batters were getting a little weary out there, but it starts over every inning,” Temple coach Craig McMurtry said.

He traded relief pitcher Brandon Parrent for centerfielder Korey Wacker on the mound in the 12th, and he allowed just one hit, a walk and a strikeout in two innings of work.

Janssen then hit his third home run of the season — all were in the the tournament — on a 3-1 count.

Beasley led MCC at the plate, going 2-for-6 with three RBIs. Janssen went 3-for-3.

Turner took the loss, pitching 5 2/3 innings. Wacker received the win.

The national championship begins May 29. Temple last made the tournament in 2006.

bbateman@wacotrib.com

757-5715

MCC's De’Mario Thibodeaux reacts after Temple College's 13th-inning walk-off homer.
Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald

MCC player Troy McCartney walks off the field after the loss.
Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald

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