The Blinn College softball team used a big offensive effort to secure a doubleheader split with Region XIV South foe Lamar State-Port Arthur on Saturday in Port Arthur, Texas.
After Lamar State earned a 3-1 victory in game one, the Buccaneers pounded out 15 hits en route to a 12-5 victory to end the day.
"We were hoping to make up some ground in conference play today, but Lamar State had othe plans in game one," Blinn head coach Rick Chuch said. "It was important to get the second game as every win is critical now to make it into the region tournament."
The opening ballgame proved to be a pitchers' duel as Blinn starter Chloee Mason and the Seahawks' Cameron Niedenthal tossed complete games.
After Blinn (10-23, 4-6 Region XIV South) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second frame on Madeline Stephenson's RBI groundout, Niedenthal helped her own cause with a solo home run in the bottom of the frame.
Lamar State took the lead in the bottom of the third and added an insurance run in the sixth.
Chandler Talbot had two hits out of the leadoff spot for the Bucs, and Kayla Wallace also had a pair of hits. Keely Castill and Teagan Whitley both doubled.
Mason worked six innings, allowed three runs (all earned) on six hits with six strikeouts and four walks.
In game two, Blinn erased a 2-0, first-inning deficit with a four-run second.
Emily Kristynik tied the game with a two-run homer, scoring Acie Prince in the process, and Stephenson gave her team the lead for good when she plated Wallace and Caitlyn Stevens with a double.
Two more runs came home on Seahawk errors in the third inning before Wallace smacked a solo home run to center field to make it 7-2
Blinn tacked on three more runs in the fourth and two in the seventh. Lamar State scored three times in the fifth.
Stevens had three hits to pace the Bucs, while Stephenson, Wallace, Kristynik, Whitley, and Kenley Strange finished with two apiece. Kristynik and Stephenson finished with three RBIs each and Prince also drove in a run.
Kailey Eldridge earned the pitching victory for Blinn. She allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits with four walks and a strikeout in a five-inning effort.
The Bucs head to Louisiana State University-Eunice for a doubleheader beginning at noon Sunday in Eunice, La.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
