LUFKIN, Texas — No. 17 Blinn College softball showcased a strong offense and defense in its 9-0 run-rule victory over Kilgore College to open the 2019 NJCAA Region XIV Softball Tournament Monday night at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex. 

After hitting a two-run homer in the second inning, Courtney Ogle did it again in the fifth inning for the Buccaneers to walk off the field with the win. 

With the win, Blinn improves to 43-13 overall and will face No. 16 Angelina College on Tuesday, May 14, at 7:30 p.m.

"We had key hits to get RBIs, but today the kudos goes to Courtney Ogle for having a great game," said Rick Church, Blinn head coach. "Meghan Morris got out of every inning for us in the circle and Kilgore never had a runner get to third base, so we did a good job."

Meghan Morris was solid in the circle to earn her 25th win this season. She pitched all five innings, not allowing a run and striking out two. 

Ogle went 3-for-3 to lead Blinn with five RBIs and two runs, while Bailey Zibelin followed with three RBIs and two runs. 

The Buccaneers were clutch under pressure, scoring their first four runs with two outs on the board.

After a scoreless first inning, Blinn grabbed a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Anna Pisaro and Bailey Zibelin started things off by hitting back-to-back singles for the first run to score. Then, Courtney Ogle followed with her first two-run blast.

Ogle recorded her third RBI in the fourth inning, hitting a single for Maria Garcia to score and Blinn to lead 4-0.

Blinn piled on its final five runs in the fifth inning for the win. Kimber Cortemelia drove in the first run of the inning with a double that allowed Amber Langston to score. Then, Zibelin drove in the next two runs with a single, followed by Ogle's two-run bomb for the win.

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 41 NJCAA national championships since 1987.