BUC SOFTBALL SWEPT BY #6 MCLENNAN IN A DOUBLEHEADER

A tough day at the plate and in the pitcher's circle for the Blinn College softball team led to a doubleheader sweep at the hands of No. 6 McLennan Community College on Monday in Waco, Texas.

The Highlassies defeated the Buccaneers 7-0 in game one and 8-0 in the finale (five innings).

"We had some quality innings from our pitchers today, but no run support and costly defensive mistakes didn't make us very competitive today," Blinn head coach Rick Church said.

The Bucs (7-5-1) managed just two hits in the opener – a double for sophomore Alyssa Boozy and a single off the bat of freshman Haley Hughes.

In the circle, sophomore Peyton Welker absorbed the loss despite only allowing three earned runs (seven total) on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts in four innings of work. Freshman Bella De Los Santos tossed two innings of scoreless relief and struck out four.

In game two, Blinn's lineup again struggled to the tune of three hits. Hughes went 2 for 2 with a triple.

Freshman Paige Bunting lasted 1/3 of an inning in the circle after McLennan touched her up for four earned runs on two hits and three walks. De Los Santos returned for 3 2/3 innings of relief but surrendered four earned runs on five hits and five walks despite striking out six Highlassies.

"It's time to focus on turning things around with six games in Alabama," Church added.

Blinn's season continues at the National Preview Tournament starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 23, in Oxford, Ala. The Bucs open play against John A. Logan College.

(Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information)