BLINN SOFTBALL FALLS TO TRINITY VALLEY AT REGION 14 TOURNAMENT

Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information

The Blinn College softball team dropped a 7-4 decision to No. 5 Trinity Valley Community College in the semifinal round of the Region 14 Tournament on Thursday in Houston.

The Buccaneers (32-18) moved into the consolation bracket, where they will continue their pursuit of a berth for the NJCAA Division I Softball Championship tournament.

Blinn battles Alvin College in consolation play at noon on Friday in Houston. The Bucs will need three more consolation wins to earn the region’s second nationals berth.

Thursday’s game was a tightly contested affair, with Trinity Valley finding just enough offense to pull away in the third and fourth innings.

“After giving up some runs early, we settled down and kept it interesting,” Bucs coach Rick Church said. “A couple defensive miscues helped Trinity Valley, but I think our pitching is still more than good enough to get us to the consolation championship Saturday. We'll just have to step it up on offense.”

The Cardinals scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning to jump out in front.

Blinn answered on freshman infielder Londyn Holland’s sacrifice fly in the second inning and a solo home run for sophomore catcher Cadence Wiese in the third to make it 3-2. It was Wiese’s 12th homer of the year, tying her for the team lead.

After Trinity Valley scored three times in the third, sophomore first baseman Daniela Lopez pulled her team within 6-4 on a two-run homer to center field, her fifth of the season.

The Cardinals added one more insurance run in the fourth to cap the scoring.

Blinn and Trinity Valley finished with nine hits apiece.

Wiese, sophomore outfielder Halle Scheel, and freshman outfielder Skylar Flanagan had two hits apiece. Wiese also doubled.

Sophomore pitcher Madisyn Bracknell (11-7) was charged with the loss following 5 2/3 innings of work. She gave up seven runs (three earned) on eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Sophomore pitcher Brynn Gallamore got the final out of the inning with a strikeout.