BRENHAM, Texas — Pitching was solid for Blinn College softball (15-10, 2-0) in the Region XIV conference opener in order for the Buccaneers to sweep Coastal Bend College Saturday at Hohlt Park.
Blinn's strong pitching led to a 2-0 victory in the first game of the doubleheader, while its stellar offense led to a 9-1 run-rule win in five innings to finish the day.
Blinn 2 – Coastal Bend 0
Meghan Morris' complete game shutout led the Buccaneers to a 2-0 victory over Coastal Bend in the doubleheader opener.
Morris was solid in the circle, only allowing three hits, while striking out three.
Four hits and two runs was all it took for the Buccaneers to notch the win. The offense was led by Courtney Ogle with one RBI and one run, and Mackenzie Crews with one run. Amber Langston went 2-for-2 at the plate, while drawing a walk.
Ogle hit a home run in the fourth inning to put Blinn ahead 1-0 in the pitching duel.
Crews scored Blinn's second and final run in the fifth inning on an error.
Blinn 9 – Coastal Bend 1
Blinn used an explosive offense to run-rule Coastal Bend, 9-1, in five innings to closeout the doubleheader.
Ashley Richardson sealed the win in the circle after only surrendering one run on two hits in five innings, while striking out two.
Kimber Cortemelia led Blinn's offense with two RBIs and one run, while Tori Alvarez-Lopez, Anna Pisaro, Maria Garcia, Bailey Zibelin, Julissa Llanos and Langston each drove in one run.
The Buccaneers' offense got off to a quick start, scoring four runs in the first inning. Cortemelia drove in Blinn's first run with a single for Pisaro to score. Langston scored Blinn's next run on a passed ball, while back-to-back doubles by Garcia and Zibelin allowed two more runs to score.
Coastal Bend scored its only run in the fourth inning, while Blinn added three runs in the fourth inning and two in the fifth inning.
After two singles and an error loaded the bases, Pisaro was hit by a pitch for Kindle Gault to score. Langston followed with a walk for Sarah Cedillo to score, while Kelsey Lowke scored on a fielder's choice for Blinn to lead 7-1.
Llanos kept things rolling in the fifth inning with a single to plate Zibelin, while a sacrifice fly off the bat of Alvarez-Lopez allowed Lexi Harris to score the final run needed for the run-rule win.
Next, Blinn will continue conference play against Laredo Community College in a doubleheader on Sunday, March 17, starting at 1 p.m. at Hohlt Park.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 38 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
