The Blinn College softball team played two completely different ballgames Friday and still came away with two victories.
The Buccaneers had to rally for a 4-3, extra-innings win over Monroe College to open the day before earning an 8-0, run-rule victory over Kilgore College in a five-inning finale.
Blinn improved to 6-0 on the season and impressed head coach Rick Church with its ability to respond to a tough opening contest.
"We were quite fortunate to get the win in that first game," Church said. "The second game was a great response to a tough first game. We showed less-than-stellar execution against Monroe, but we came back and swung the bats well and did things right in the second game."
Against Monroe, Blinn led 1-0 heading into the top of the seventh inning, but missed several chances to increase its lead after stranding several runners on base. Monroe would finally break through against sophomore pitcher Chloee Mason with a three-run seventh.
In the home half of the seventh, freshman Alayna Calvillo and sophomore Emily Kristynik singled with one out. Freshman Shae Fontenot ran for Kristynik before sophomore Skylar Shanahan plated both runners with a double to center field.
In the eighth, Freshman Ripley Welker was placed on second base per the extra-innings rule and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Sophomore Kenley Strange then drove her in with a squeeze bunt to end the game.
(Pictured: Blinn College freshman Alayna Calvillo follows through on a swing during a game against Monroe College on Feb. 10)
Calvillo went 4 for 4 for Blinn and scored twice.
Mason tossed a complete game and earned the win after allowing three earned runs on seven hits with one walk. She struck out nine Mustangs.
In game two, the Bucs got their offense going early with three runs in both the first and second innings.
Calvillo's RBI single plated freshman Erynne Castillo to open the scoring before Kristynik doubled in Calvillo. A Shanahan double sent Kristynik home for a 3-0 lead.
In the second, After sophomores Madeline Stephenson and Michyla Saenz reached on and error and walked, respectively, Castillo tripled to make it 5-0. Castillo scored on a passed ball for a 6-0 advantage.
A Calvillo RBI single scored Castillo in the fourth and Calvillo later scored on an error to make it 8-0.
The Bucs finished with eight hits, led by a 3-for-3 game from Castillo. She scored three times and had two RBI. Calvillo went 2 for 2 with two runs and two RBI. Shanahan also had two hits.
Calvillo earned high praise from Church, who said his freshman outfielder was excellent with both her bat and her glove in left field.
"She had a heck of a day," he said.
In the circle, freshman pitcher Peyton Welker tossed five innings of three-hit ball. She struck out four and didn't issue a walk.
(Pictured: Blinn College sophomore Chloee Mason delivers a pitch during a game against Monroe College on Feb. 10)
"I thought our pitching was very good today," Church said. "Outside of the seventh inning, Chloee was very effective for us, and Peyton did very well in her five innings."
Blinn travels to Navarro College for a twin bill beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, in Corsicana, Texas.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
