Blinn shuts out Laredo to open doubleheader, 6-0

BRENHAM, Texas - Blinn College softball received a shutdown performance from Meghan Morris in the circle and a pair of RBIs by Calli Birch to earn a 6-0 victory over Laredo Community College in Sunday's doubleheader opener at Hohlt Park.

Laredo picked up an 8-5 victory to conclude the doubleheader and split the pair. With the split, the Buccaneers move to 23-13 overall and 12-4 in Region XIV play.

Blinn 6 - Laredo 0

Morris used an impressive pitching performance to help lead the Buccaneers to a 6-0 victory in the doubleheader opener.

She pitched a seven-inning shutout and only surrendered six hits on two strikes.

Birch led the Buccaneers with two RBIs after she went 2-for-3. Tori Alvarez-Lopez, Amy Alexander and Abby Olejniczak each drove in one run in the victory.

The Buccaneers set an early tone after jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the opening inning. Three walks allowed the Buccaneers to load the bases for Olejniczak to drive in the first run with a single. Birch followed with a two-run single for Villarreal and Alexander to score and Olejniczak scored the final run of the inning by stealing home.

The Buccaneers added one run in the fifth inning after Sydney Gutierrez led off with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly.

In the sixth inning, Birch led off with a single and later scored Blinn's final run on a groundout.

Laredo 8 - Blinn 5

Laredo was able to grab an early lead over Blinn and hold it for an 8-5 victory to close out the doubleheader.

Courtney Ogle led the Buccaneers with two RBIs, while Villarreal followed with one. Blinn totaled 10 hits as Gabriela Gomez, Ogle and Villarreal led the offense with two each.

Laredo chipped away at Blinn by scoring one run in each of the first four innings for an early 4-0 lead.

The Buccaneers arrived on the board in the fourth inning to cut Laredo's lead in half, 4-2. Villarreal led off the inning with a solo home run for Blinn's first run and Lauren Coerver scored the second run on an error.

Laredo added two runs in the fifth inning to pull ahead 6-2.

Blinn didn't answer back until the sixth inning when Morgan Gray scored on an error for the only run in the inning.

Laredo scored its final two runs in the seventh inning to gain an 8-3 lead.

The Buccaneers attempted a rally in the seventh inning with two runs but it fell short for an 8-5 final. With two outs, Ogle produced a two-run single for Gutierrez and Gomez to score.

Next, Blinn will travel to Lamar State College-Port Arthur for a conference doubleheader on Friday, April 13 starting at 1 p.m.

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 36 NJCAA national championships since 1987.