Brooks Nelson Homers Twice as McKinney North Tops Melissa 10-6 in Game One

Three runs before Melissa could even pick up a bat — that's how Game One between the McKinney North Bulldogs and the Melissa Cardinals got started.

Northwest Missouri State commit Austin Sayman got things going in the top of the first, scoring Cade Antosca from third on a run up the gut. Two bases-loaded walks followed, and UT Tyler commit Connor Leos trotted home to make it 3-0 McKinney North before the Cardinals had recorded a single out on offense.

Melissa didn't stay quiet for long. In the bottom of the first, sophomore recruit Cullen Scott launched a three-run home run over the left field wall, instantly turning a three-run deficit into a one-run game at 4-3. It was the kind of swing that changes the tone of a series.

But McKinney North had an answer of their own in Navarro College commit Brooks Nelson. Nelson went deep twice on the night — both shots clearing the left field wall — and his pair of home runs proved to be the difference. The Bulldogs pulled away for a 10-6 Game One win, setting the tone early in the series against the Cardinals.