GALVESTON, Texas — Bailey Zibelin and Kimber Cortemelia each led Blinn's offense with grand slams that allowed Blinn College softball (23-12, 8-0) to come back and beat Galveston College in two games of a doubleheader Friday afternoon.
Zibelin's grand slam led to a 6-5 victory to open the doubleheader, while Cortemelia's led to a 14-10 win for the sweep.
"Being able to come from behind the way we did with our offense today is something you always like to see your team be able to do because it gives us confidence moving forward in the season," said Rick Church, Blinn head coach. "The grand slams deflated Galveston for sure, so it is nice to have that capability this season."
Blinn 6 – Galveston 5
Zibelin's fifth-inning blast led Blinn to a 6-5 victory over Galveston to begin the doubleheader.
Zibelin's four RBIs led the offense, while Courtney Ogle and Maria Garcia each drove in one run.
Morris claimed her 12th win of the season after throwing a complete game and surrendering four earned runs, while striking out nine.
Blinn trailed 4-0 after Galveston scored two runs in the first inning and two runs in the third inning.
However, a five-run inning in the fifth put the Buccaneers ahead. The scoring drive began after Mayela Fernandez and Kimber Cortemelia each drew walks, and Tori Alvarez-Lopez hit a single for Blinn to load the bases. Garcia walked the bases loaded for Blinn's first run to score followed by a grand slam by Zibelin for the Buccaneers to lead 5-4.
Ogle hit a leadoff home run in the sixth inning for Blinn to extend its lead to 6-4. Galveston rallied for one run in the seventh inning before Blinn put the Whitecaps away.
Blinn 14 – Galveston 10
The Buccaneers came out on top of a slugfest against Galveston, 14-10, thanks to Cortemelia and Kelsey Lowke combining for seven RBIs.
Cortemelia led with four RBIs, while Lowke followed with three and Kristin Kaiser was next with two. Garcia and Zibelin each scored three runs in the win.
Morris sealed her second win of the day after throwing the final 2 1/3 innings and surrendering just two runs on two hits.
Blinn and Galveston alternated the lead until the sixth inning when the Buccaneers scored six runs highlighted by Cortemelia's grand slam.
Galveston scored the first run of the game in the first inning, but the Buccaneers quickly grabbed a 3-1 lead in the second. Cortemelia scored the first run to tie the game on Mackenzi Crews' single, while Garcia tagged up on a fly ball and Zibelin scored on Alvarez-Lopez's single.
The Whitecaps gained the lead back in the second inning by scoring four runs to pull ahead 5-3.
After a scoreless third inning, Blinn tacked on four runs in the fourth inning after Lowke drove in two runs with a single, Sarah Cedillo hit a one-run single and Alvarez-Lopez scored on an error for a 7-5 advantage.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Galveston evened the score 7-7.
A one-run double by Zibelin in the fifth inning gave Blinn the edge, but Galveston tied it 8-8 in the bottom half.
The Buccaneers finally broke away in the sixth inning with six runs after Cortemelia hit a grand slam and Kaiser hit a two-run double.
Galveston scored its final two runs in the seventh inning before falling.
Next, the Buccaneers travel to face Alvin Community College on Friday, March 29, in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 38 NJCAA national championships since 1987.