TEMPLE, Texas – Sophomore pitcher Caitie Carney picked up a pair of victories here Friday as the second-ranked Blinn College softball team won two of its three games on the first day of the Temple College Tournament.

Blinn defeated Grayson Community College 17-1 in their tournament opener before falling to Howard College 10-5 and bouncing back with a 6-2 victory over Northeast Texas Community College.

Carney (2-2) earned the win over Grayson, allowing just four hits and a walk while striking out six.

The Buccaneer offense gave her plenty of support, scoring five runs in each of the first two innings. Shelbe Sterling hit a pair of two-run home runs, Tiffani McKnight went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and three RBIs and Christa Hartnett was 2-for-4 with two stolen bases. Allison Artz went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base and Kristina Davila crushed a two-run homer.

It was Howard's offense that shone during the Buccaneers' second contest of the day, scoring two runs apiece in the first and second innings to take the early lead, then launching a pair of home runs in the sixth inning to put the game away. Blinn freshman Shannon O'Connor (2-4) allowed 10 hits in the loss.

The Bucs got a pair of runs in the third inning when Artz singled ahead of a Tiffani McKnight home run, and Kristina Davila smacked a two-run single in the fourth.

Carney picked up her second win of the day against Northeast Texas, scattering seven hits while striking out two. She did not walk a batter.

Blinn got on the scoreboard in the third inning with a two-run double by Payton Webb, and in the fifth inning Webb followed with a two-run home run.

Northeast Teas scored both its runs in the bottom of the fifth to pull within two, but Taylor Guidry hit a two-run homer in the seventh to give the Buccaneers some breathing room.

The Buccaneers (8-8) continue tournament play Saturday when they face McLennan at 11:30 a.m. and Northeast Texas at 2 p.m.