LUFKIN, Texas — The Blinn College softball team (5-7) had a hard time getting runs on the board and Angelina College took advantage to sweep the Buccaneers in the doubleheader on Friday.
After rallying late in the first game, the Lady Roadrunners pulled off a 3-2 win. The momentum carried over into the second game for Angelina to defeat Blinn, 8-0, in five innings.
"We didn't support our pitchers very well today," said Rick Church, Blinn head coach. "We will get another chance with Angelina next Wednesday at home."
Angelina 3 – Blinn 2
Angelina scored three runs in the sixth inning to rally back and defeat Blinn, 3-2, to open the doubleheader.
Renna Toomey was solid on the mound for the Buccaneers, tossing five scoreless innings. She surrendered three runs, two that were earned, and seven hits, while striking out three in five innings of work. Nevada Dolnik pitched one inning for Blinn, allowing just one hit.
Mackenzie Crews and Mikaela Lopez led Blinn's offense with two hits apiece and each drove in one run, while Lopez and Marley Mahoney each scored one run.
Solid pitching efforts on both teams kept the game scoreless until the sixth inning when all five runs in the game were scored.
Blinn took a 2-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning. Mahoney landed on base due to an error, Lopez hit a triple for her to score and Crews followed with a single for Lopez to score.
Angelina answered back in the bottom of the inning with three runs to take a 3-2 lead for good. The Lady Roadrunners led off with a solo home to cut Blinn's lead in half. Angelina scored its second and third runs on one-run singles.
Angelina 8 – Blinn 0
Angelina rolled into the second game of the doubleheader with the momentum and was able to run-rule Blinn, 8-0, in five innings.
Angelina's pitching limited Blinn to two hits as Lopez and Toomey each recorded one.
Dolnik received the loss after giving up three runs and five hits in four innings.
The Buccaneers were able to hold off Angelina in the first three innings, but the Lady Roadrunners drew a walk and hit three singles to rack up three runs in the fourth inning.
Angelina finished off Blinn with five runs in the fifth inning after loading the bases and hitting a single to lead 4-0, then hitting a grand slam to walk off with the 8-0 win.
Next, the Buccaneers will return home to compete against Angelina in a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 4, starting at 2 p.m. at Hohlt Park.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 41 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
