Blinn College softball settled for a doubleheader split with Region XIV South Zone foe Alvin Community College on Saturday in Alvin, Texas.
The Buccaneers battled for a close 2-1 triumph in game one before the Dolphins responded for a 12-7 victory in the finale.
Blinn is now 20-12 with a 6-4 South Zone mark.
In the opener, sophomore pitcher Chloee Mason (7-4) dominated Alvin en route to her second consecutive complete-game effort. She allowed an earned run in the first inning before shutting out the Dolphins the rest of the way. She scattered nine hits, struck out three, and walked two.
"These last couple of weeks, she's been our most consistent pitcher and that's what you need out of a sophomore," Blinn head coach Rick Church said. "Now we need our other pitchers to step up."
Freshman Alyssa Boozy gave the Bucs a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a run-scoring double to left field that scored freshman Alayna Calvillo. After Alvin tied the game in the home half of the frame, the two teams remained tied until Blinn pulled ahead in the top of the seventh. Sophomore Skylar Shanahan singled in Calvillo for her 25th RBI of the season.
(Pictured: Blinn sophomore pitcher Chloee Mason delivers a pitch during a game against San Jacinto-South on March 29)
Calvillo doubled, and she and Boozy each finished with two hits as part of the Bucs' nine-hit attack.
In game two, Alvin built a 7-1 lead before the Bucs staged a four-run rally in the top of the fourth. The Dolphins answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning, and Blinn rallied again with two more in the fifth. Alvin would respond once again in the bottom of the fifth and added another run in the sixth to secure the victory.
"Alvin just responded well and kept coming back at us," Hart said. "We had a couple of innings where we responded, but Alvin just came back and responded. They showed a lot of grit so give them credit."
Blinn tallied 11 hits, including three for freshman Haley Rust and two apiece for Boozy and sophomore Madeline Stephenson. Calvillo and freshman Erynne Castillo finished with two RBIs apiece.
Freshman Peyton Welker took the loss for Blinn ahead two innings of four-run ball.
Up next, the Bucs host South Zone foe Lamar State College-Port Arthur for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5, at Hohlt Park in Brenham, Texas. The two games begin a stretch of 10 consecutive home tilts for Blinn.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
