Waco, TX – The Indian Hills Softball team opened its 2025 campaign with a pair of losses, dropping both ends of Thursday's doubleheader to No. 2 nationally ranked McLennan Community College (TX). The Warriors fell 10-1 in the opener before dropping the nightcap 13-1.

The Warriors scored the initial run of Thursday's twinbill as sophomore All-Region performer Peyton Raley (Arvada, CO/Arvada West) singled to leadoff the season and came around to score on a Cassandra Benberg (Green Bay, WI/Pulaski) single to put Indian Hills ahead 1-0.

Sophomore pitcher Ashlynn Sheets (Ottumwa, IA/Ottumwa) held the Highlanders scoreless through the first frame, but the defending national runners-up tacked on five runs in the second inning and five more in the third to pull away for the win.

Benberg finished the opener 2-3 at the plate while sophomore Ava Smith (Waukee, IA/Waukee Northwest) added a single in the loss.

The Warriors fell behind early in the nightcap as McLennan erupted for six runs in the second inning before tallied three more in the third and four in the fourth to drop Indian Hills to 0-2 to start the year.

Freshman Mackenzie Wesson (Colfax, IL/Ridgeview) provided the game's only run for Indian Hills with a RBI single in the fifth inning to score fellow freshman Emma Scully (West Des Moines, IA/Valley).

Wesson, Scully, and Raley provided the only three hits of the contest for the Warriors.

Indian Hills returns to action in Waco on Friday with a doubleheader. The Warriors take on Dodge City Community College (KS) at 9:00 AM before closing out their southern trip against Alvin Community College (TX) at 2:00 PM.

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