MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas – Blinn College softball looked like a much-improved team compared to the day before as the Buccaneers bounced back to beat Northeast Texas Community College 8-6 and Temple College 6-4 Saturday afternoon in Mount Pleasant.
The pair of victories improved the Blinn overall record to 4-5.
"In both games we got out to an early lead and then let the teams come a little closer that we wanted," said Blinn coach Rick Church. "Today we were able to finish them off for wins."
Blinn was able to grab a 5-2 lead after three innings against Northeast and held on for the two-run victory. Tori Gleason and Seeley Orsak each had three hits against Northeast. Gleason was one of three players that hit a home run in the victory along with Katie Andrie and Meghann Wrinkle. Faith Genoway picked up the victory in the circle in six innings while striking out six batters.
Back-to-back solo home runs by Wrinkle and Andrie gave Blinn a 2-0 lead after a half inning. Northeast tied the game up at 2-2 in the bottom of the first inning.
Gleason singled to begin the second inning and then later scored on a sacrifice fly hit by Nicole Garcia for a 3-2 lead. Gleason supplied the scoring in the third inning with a two-run home run over the fence in center for a 5-2 lead.
Blinn went after more runs in the fifth when Andrie singled to begin the inning and then later scored on a single to the right side of the infield for the sixth run. Orsak followed with an RBI single and then Jordin Wilkins made the score 8-2 after a sacrifice fly to left. Northeast scored four runs in the final three innings but Blinn was able to hold on for the two-run victory.
Blinn jumped out to a 6-0 lead against Temple and was able to hold on for another two-run victory.
Wilkins had a solid game against Temple with two hits, including a home run while knocking in three runs. Andrie hit a double and a single in her multi-hit game. Sam Junkin picked up the win in the circle by only allowing two runs in 5 1-3 innings while striking out three.
Kalli Edwards started the game with a walk and later came around to score on a double by Garcia to right. Garcia later scored for the second run and then Courtney White drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to left for a 3-0 in the first.
Wilkins supplied the run support in the third inning with a three-run home run to give the Buccaneers a 6-0 lead after three innings. Temple scored four runs but Blinn was able to seal the two-run victory.
Blinn will next face Angelina College on the road for a double-header Sunday, Feb. 7 starting at 12 p.m.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 32 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.
About Blinn College
With an enrollment of 19,422 students, Blinn ranks among the nation's leaders in transferring students to leading four-year universities and has received national recognition for affordable educational excellence. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu.
