BUCS SWEEP LAREDO: 7-3, 10-1
Blinn has now won four consecutive conference games
BRENHAM, Texas – Blinn College softball seemed to get better with each passing inning in a doubleheader sweep of Laredo Community College by the score of 7-3 and 10-1 Friday afternoon at Hohlt Park in Brenham.
“We played a lot more like a team that will do well in the region tournament in that second game,” said head coach Rick Church.
With the sweep, Blinn improves its overall record to 31-16 and 16-4 in the Region XIV South Zone standings. The Buccaneers have won their last four conference games.
Blinn 7 – Laredo 3
With three runs in the fifth inning, Blinn was able to create a little separation and turn a slim one-run lead into a 7-3 victory over Laredo to open the doubleheader.
Katie Andrie and Jordin Wilkins were both able to knock in two runs each. Cheyenne Trader and Katy Sawyer each added a single RBI in the victory while Nicole Garcia walked three times and scored two runs.
“I really wasn’t given much to hit but was still able to get on base with walks,” Garcia said. “We just took care of business early on and backed up our pitchers with our offense.”
Sam Junkin had one bumpy inning in the circle and went all seven innings and gave up three earned runs on eight hits while striking out four.
Blinn looked to jump on Laredo early by loading the bases with three walks. Garcia walked to begin the game and was the only Buccaneer to touch the plate in the inning after an RBI ground out by Trader gave Blinn a 1-0 lead.
A two-out rally helped Blinn score in the second inning as Kalli Edwards got on base with a single and a throwing error allowed her to get to third. Edwards eventually made her way home with some smart base running after a walk by Garcia for a 2-0 Buccaneer lead.
Meghann Wrinkle started the third inning with a single and came around to score when Andrie followed with a triple to give Blinn a 3-0 lead. Wilkins followed that up with an RBI ground out to the right side for a 4-0 Buccaneer lead. Laredo would get back into the game with three runs in the fifth to get within 4-3.
That would be the final run allowed by Junkin and the Blinn offense later turned it on to produce some insurance runs. Garcia began the bottom of the fifth with her third walk of the game and she later came around to score on a single by Andrie to right for a 5-3 lead.
Wilkins followed that with an RBI single to center for the sixth run. Sawyer capped the scoring in the inning with a sacrifice fly to left to score Wilkins for a 7-3 lead that would hold up to be the final score.
Blinn 10 – Laredo 1
Blinn came out much better offensively and appeared like a team ready for a postseason tournament in scoring 10 runs in the first three innings on its way to a 10-1 victory over Laredo in five innings.
Andrie was able to knock in three runs in the second game to reach five total RBIs in the doubleheader. Garcia and Wrinkle each had two runs batted in while Wilkins, Tori Gleason and Edwards each brought in a run in the lopsided victory.
“I felt very comfortable and smooth today at the plate because I have made a few adjustments with my swing,” Edwards said. “With me being a slapper in the ninth spot it gives up back to back hitters with speed that can get one with Nicole leading off.”
Bobbi Berkey pitched all five innings and gave up one unearned run on five hits while striking out five in the victory.
Wilkins was able to get Blinn on the board in the first inning with a triple to center to score Wrinkle for a 1-0 lead.
That lead expanded in the second inning with a two-out rally. Gleason was able to reach base with a walk and eventually came around to score on an RBI single by Wrinkle for a 2-0 lead. Andrie brought in a pair with a single to center to give the Buccaneers a 4-0 advantage.
The third inning is where Blinn put the game away for good as Lauren Silver got it started with a single and then came around to score on an RBI double to left by Gleason for a 5-0 lead. Edwards brought in another run with a single to right and Garcia followed with a two-run single to left for a commanding 8-0 lead. Wilkins added the ninth run with a double to the fence in center and Andrie capped the scoring with an RBI double for a 10-0 lead.
Laredo picked up an unearned run in the fourth but Berkey was able to shut down Laredo the rest of the way to pick up the 10-1 victory and a sweep of Laredo.
Blinn will back in action Saturday, April 16 with a doubleheader scheduled against Coastal Bend College in Brenham. This doubleheader will be sophomore day as the final region games at home for the Buccaneers.
For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.
(Story courtesy, Jake Gordon, Blinn Information)