PASADENA, Texas – Jordin Wilkins came through at the plate and delivered the hit that would eventually push across the game-winning run to give Blinn College softball an 8-7 victory over Navarro College in the first round of the Region XIV tournament Thursday afternoon in Pasadena.
"I was just trying to get a hit or move the runners over," Wilkins said. "When I saw the ball heading for the gap I knew there was a chance to score both runs."
The double by Wilkins drove in the game-tying run and then an error by Navarro helped Katie Andrie slide safely into home for the winning run for Blinn. The Buccaneers have now won nine games in a row and improve their overall record to 36-16. Blinn will next face the winner between Tyler Junior College and San Jacinto College-South on Friday, April 29 at 3 p.m.
Wilkins delivered the hit that would eventually turn into the game winning hit but it took a team effort to beat Navarro. Andrie drove in three runs with a home run and Meghann Wrinkle drove in a pair of runs with a home run and a single while Kalli Edwards also drove in a run in the win.
Faith Genoway came on in the sixth and pitched the final two innings to get the win in the circle by allowing only one hit and no earned runs while striking out one.
Blinn didn't exactly get off to a good start as Navarro jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the top of the third inning. The Buccaneers were able to get a couple back when Nicole Garcia smacked a two out single and then Wrinkle followed with a two-run home run to left to get within 4-2. Navarro got one back in the fifth to extend the lead to 5-2.
"This whole season we have been talking about whether we are up or down in the game to just battle," said Blinn coach Rick Church. "We battled hard and it worked out for us in the seventh."
The bottom of the fifth saw the Buccaneers get back into the game again when Courtney White started it off with a single and then eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Edwards to get within 5-3. Andrie delivered the big blow in the inning with a three run home run to left to give the Buccaneers a 6-5 lead after five.
The lead didn't hold long as Navarro scored a pair of runs on an error to take a 7-6 lead. Blinn waited until its final at bats to go after the lead as Wrinkle reached on an error and Andrie singled to get on base. That is when Wilkins powered her double to the gap in left-center to score Wrinkle easily and then Andrie scored on a throwing error to steal an 8-7 victory from Navarro.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 34 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.
