BEAUMONT, Texas – Blinn College softball does much better when it scores first and that proved true as the Buccaneers scored the first four runs in a 6-4 beating of Bossier Parish Community College to finish the day in the Region XIV Crossover Tournament Friday at the Beaumont Athletic Complex.
The Buccaneers did start the day by falling behind early to Angelina College and lost the opening game 8-3 to get a split on the day. With the split, Blinn's overall record moves to 11-9.
Angelina 8 – Blinn 3
Angelina got off to a fast start by scoring the first four runs and Blinn was not able to recover as the Buccaneers lost the opening game of the tournament 8-3.
Amy Alexander added a late two-run home run while Nicole Garcia had the other RBI with a single and a double. Gabriela Gomez added a pair of singles in the loss.
Angelina jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after two runs in each the first and second innings but Blinn got on the scoreboard in the fourth. Gomez started the scoring opportunity with a one-out single and then came in to score after an RBI double by Garcia to center to get within 4-1. Angelina built up its lead to 8-1 after a run in the bottom of the fourth and three in the sixth.
In its final at-bats, Blinn started a rally when Alyssa Vega drew a one-out walk and then Alexander blasted a two-run home run over the fence in center. That would be the final run scored by the Buccaneers as Angeline held on for the win.
Blinn 6 – Bossier Parish 4
Blinn reversed its luck in the second game of the day as the Buccaneers started fast with four early runs and held on to beat Bossier Parish 6-4 to close the day.
Alexander hit her second two-run home run of the day to knock in a pair while Shelby Achille added a two-run home run of her own. Emily Taylor and Makalah Norman each had an RBI in the win.
Colleen Bentke pitched all seven innings to earn the win in the circle by only allowing two earned runs while striking out nine.
This time it was Blinn starting fast as the Buccaneer scored first with an RBI single by Taylor in the second inning. Norman knocked in another run with an RBI ground out for a 2-0 lead. Blinn kept the momentum going in the third when Kalli Edwards reached base with a single and Alexander blasted a two-run home run over the fence in center for a 4-0 lead. Bossier Parish did score three in the bottom of the third to get within 4-3.
The Buccaneers used the long ball in the fifth to extend their lead as Achille belted a two-run home run to left for a 6-3 lead. Bossier Parish did add one run in the sixth but Bentke didn't allow another run to seal the victory.
Blinn will play two more games on Saturday, Feb. 25 in the crossover tournament starting with Tyler Junior College at 11 a.m. and then finishing up with Northeast Texas Community College at 3 p.m.
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.