Waco, TX – Indian Hills Softball opened up its 2026 campaign with a pair of competitive losses on Thursday, falling to No. 4 ranked McLennan Community College (TX) 7-3 and Blinn Community College (TX) 8-7 at the Bosque River Ballpark.

Competing at the Highlander Games hosted by McLennan, the Warriors' 2026 season-opening doubleheader saw two aggressive matchups vs. teams who entered Thursday with multiple contests under their belt already. McLennan held off a late charge from the Warriors to improve to 4-1 on the year while Blinn used a late run surge to drop Indian Hills and improve to 2-1 on the year.

McLennan, ranked No. 4 in the nation to open the preseason polls, jumped out to a 7-1 lead through three innings of play vs. the Warriors. Freshamn Gabby Lane (East Peoria, IL/East Peoria) plated the Warriors' first run of the year, scoring on a Highlander error in the third.

Sophomore hurler Maggie Grant (Onaway, MI/Inland Lakes), making the start in the circle for the Warriors' season opener, limited McLennan over the next three innings to give Indian Hills a chance to rally. The Warriors tacked on two runs in the sixth on RBI knocks from Cassandra Benberg (Green Bay, WI/Pulaski) and Lane before stranding a pair of runners to close out the frame and end the Indian Hills threat.

Lane was joined by fellow freshmen Madisyn Buysse (Geneseo, IL/Geneseo) and Kate Hickenbottom (Davenport, IA/Davenport Assumption) who each collected a pair of hits in the loss. Grant struck out four batters in six innings of work.

In the nightcap vs. Blinn, the Warrior offense carried over its momentum, plating three runs in the top half of the first inning thanks to a two-run triple from Benberg and a run-scoring single from Hickenbottom. Blinn responded with two runs of its own in the bottom of the first before Indian Hills added another score in the top of the second.

The Buccanneers eventually chipped away at the deficit and took a 6-4 lead through six innings of play. Indian Hills answered right back, plating a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to regain the lead, 7-6. Blinn pulled back ahead thanks to two runs in the bottom of the sixth for a one-run edge. 

The Warriors threatened in the seventh, but a game-ending play at the plate kept Indian Hills out of the win column.

Buysse finished game two going 3-3 at the plate with a pair of walks while Benberg finished with two hits, two runs, and two RBI. Sophomore Avery Kies (Iowa City, IA/Regina Catholic) added a pair of base hits for the Warriors in the loss.

Indian Hills will be back in action Friday in Waco with matchups vs. McLennan at 10:00 AM and vs. No. 4 ranked Grayson College (TX) at 3:00 PM.

NEW YEAR - WHAT TO KNOW

Fans can keep up the Indian Hills Softball squad all year long through a number of ways:

• X (formerly Twitter): @IHCCAthletics  |  @WarriorSoftball
• Facebook: Indian Hills Athletics  |  Indian Hills Softball
• Instagram: @IHCCAthletics  |  @IHCC_Softball
• Youtube: Indian Hills Athletics
• Website: www.indianhillsathletics.com
• Catch up with the history of Indian Hills Softball: Indian Hills Softball Record Book
• Preview the Warriors' 2026 campaign with the official media guide: Indian Hills Softball Media Guide
• Keep up with former Indian Hills Softball standouts and where they are now | Next Level Warriors - Indian Hills Softball
• All home games are played at R.L. Hellyer Field on the Indian Hills - Ottumwa campus

HOW TO WATCH

As always, GoHillsTV provides free live broadcasts of all Indian Hills Softball home and postseason games. Fans can tune in a number of ways all season long:

• GoHillsTV App: Download the Iowa Media Network app on your android or ios device and navigate to the GoHillsTV section
• Website: https://www.iowamedianetwork.com/gohillstv to catch all live and archived information
• Roku Streaming Device:  Have a Roku TV or streaming stick? Download the GoHillsTV app to start streaming today!

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