BLINN SOFTBALL SWEEPS DOUBLEHEADER OVER KILGORE
Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information
The Blinn College softball team wrapped up an impressive three-day stretch with two more wins in a doubleheader against Kilgore College on Saturday in Kilgore, Texas.
The Buccaneers earned a 9-2 victory in game one and outlasted the Rangers in a wild 11-9 finale.
Blinn has won six games in three days and improved to 7-1 overall. The six victories make up the Bucs' current winning streak.
"We finished a tough road trip with continued strong offensive production and solid pitching from Brynn Gallamore," Blinn head coach Rick Church said. "It can be tough to stay competitively focused on back-to-back-to-back days, and it basically becomes a mental and focus challenge. We answered that challenge this week."
The opener saw the Bucs race out to a 5-0 advantage before tacking on four runs after the third inning to turn the game into a rout.
Blinn tallied 15 hits and drew eight walks.
The Bucs did a chunk of their damage with the long ball, as three players smacked home runs.
After Blinn took a 2-0 edge in the first inning, freshman designated hitter Jaylen Moraice Budalich pushed that lead to 4-0 in the second when she sent a two-run homer to center field.
Ahead 6-1 in the fifth, sophomore first baseman Daniela Lopez blasted a solo shot to left field, and one inning later, freshman catcher Lexis Moss added a solo homer to make it 8-1.
Lopez, Moss, and sophomore center fielder Halle Scheel had three hits apiece. Left fielder Skylar Flanagan and right fielder Presli Moebes – both freshmen – each had two hits. Moss, Lopez, and Moraice Budalich had two RBIs apiece.
Sophomore pitcher Brynn Gallamore tossed her third complete game in as many days to improve to 4-0. She allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Blinn's path to a third consecutive doubleheader sweep hit a speed bump in game two as the Bucs saw an early 10-2 cushion trimmed to just a 10-9 lead in the fifth inning.
After a scoreless sixth for both teams, freshman second baseman Londyn Holland scored on a passed ball in the top of the seventh to give Blinn some more-needed breathing room.
Gallamore, who came on in relief in the sixth, set down the Rangers in order in the seventh to complete the sweep.
"Bryann was excellent today and gave us a boost at the end of a wild game two," Church said. "We didn't let defensive and pitching miscues carry over to our offense, and if we keep that mental approach, we should be in good shape next week when we face a very tough schedule."
Sophomore starting pitcher Kacie Dudensing earned the win after allowing five earned runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts in three innings of work. She improved to 3-0.
Freshman pitcher Carly Rimek worked the fourth and fifth frames and surrendered four earned runs.
Nine Buccaneers had at least one hit as part of a 16-hit effort.
Freshman shortstop Brianna Moreno hit her first home run of the season – a three-run shot during a five-run fourth – and Blinn added five doubles for six extra-base hits.
Moreno finished with three hits, Marquart had three hits and an RBI, Holland had two hits and drove in three, and Moss, sophomore designated hitter Annie Beckendorf, and freshman catcher Kourtney Carter chipped in two apiece. Carter and Scheel had one RBI apiece.
Up next, Blinn will play at home for the first time this season when it hosts Tyler Junior College for a twin bill beginning at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at Hohlt Park in Brenham, Texas.