BUCS HONOR SOPHOMORES–SWEEP COASTAL BEND

Blinn sends off its sophomore with a pair of mercy rule wins over Coastal Bend, 9-1 and 8-0

Buccaneers have won six in a row and the last three wins have been run rule victories

BRENHAM, Texas – Blinn College softball sent off its sophomores with an impressive run rule sweep of Coastal Bend College by the score of 9-1 and 8-0 Saturday afternoon at Hohlt Park in Brenham.

By sweeping its final conference home games, Blinn’s overall record improves to 33-16 and 18-4 in the Region XIV South Zone standings. The Buccaneers have now won six in a row and the last three have been run rule victories.

“We took care of business this weekend by beating Laredo and Coastal Bend,” said Blinn head coach Rick Church. “With a little bit of help we could have a chance at first place in the South.”

Blinn 9 – Coastal Bend 1

Blinn jumped all over Coastal Bend to begin the game and then finished off the victory in five innings by the score of 9-1 to open the doubleheader.

Nicole Garcia, Katie Andrie and Cheyenne Trader each brought in two runs in the win. Lauren Silver also had two RBIs with two singles and a double in a 3 for 3 performance at the plate.

“I felt good and I was seeing the ball really well off of that first pitcher,” Silver said.

Sam Junkin had plenty of run support but still pitched well by going all five innings and allowing one earned run on five hits and one strikeout.

Blinn loaded the bases in the first inning with one out as Meghann Wrinkle, Andrie and Jordin Wilkins all singled to get on base. Trader brought in two runs with a double to right-center for a 2-0 lead. Silver brought in a run with an infield single to give the Buccaneers a 3-0 lead. Coastal Bend scored its lone run of the doubleheader in the third inning to get within 3-1.

Blinn extended its lead in the bottom of the third when Wilkins started it off with a double and then came around to score on a double by Silver down the right field line for a 4-1 lead. Courtney White poked a single through the left side of the infield for a 5-1 advantage.

Garcia brought in a pair of runs with a single to center for the sixth and seventh runs and Andrie capped the scoring in the inning with an RBI single up the middle for an 8-1 lead.

With an opportunity to end the game early, the Buccaneers did not disappoint. Kalli Edwards started the fifth with a single and Andrie ended the game with a run rule, walk-off single back up the middle for a 9-1 victory.

Blinn 8 – Coastal Bend 0

Blinn kept the offense flowing in the second game and strolled to an 8-0 victory in six innings over Coastal Bend to finalize the sweep during sophomore day.

Garcia is normally a lock to get on base and score runs but in the second game she was able to knock in three runs on two doubles and a single to help set the tone offensively. Andrie drove in a pair of runs in the second game and had four RBIs in the doubleheader. Wrinkle, Wilkins and Chelsea Wood each drove in a run in the run rule victory.

“It’s a big deal to play the final conference game at home with my teammates and some of my best friends over the last two years,” Wrinkle said.

Bobbi Berkey pitched all six innings and kept Coastal Bend off the scoreboard by allowing only five hits and striking out one.

Blinn jumped on Coastal Bend again in the first inning as Garcia reached on an error and Wrinkle singled to begin the inning and Andrie brought both in with a double down the right field line for a 2-0 lead.

Wilkins helped to add a run in the third inning. Garcia started the inning with a double and came around to score on a double by Wilkins to the fence in center for a 3-0 lead.

Garcia extended the lead in the fourth inning when Katy Sawyer reached on an error and Edwards walked to get on base. Garcia ripped a double to the fence in left to give the Buccaneers a 5-0 cushion.

Blinn again had a chance to end the game early in the sixth inning as Sawyer started it off with a single and then came around to score on a double by Wood to right for a 6-0 lead. Garcia followed with an RBI single to left for the seventh run and then Wood later scored on an error for the 8-0 victory.

Blinn will play its final home game on Wednesday, April 20 against Louisiana State University-Eunice with the doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Hohlt Park.

For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.