BLINN SOFTBALL SPLITS DOUBLEHEADER WITH TEMPLE

Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information

The Blinn College softball team brushed off a rough start to its doubleheader with No. 22 Temple College to earn a split Tuesday in Temple, Texas.

The Leopards topped the Buccaneers 13-5 in game one (five innings) before Blinn rebounded for a 3-2 victory in the finale.

“It wasn’t a good showing for us in the pitcher’s circle in the first game, but we found a heck of a way to bounce back in game two,” Bucs head coach Rick Church said. “If you’re going to settle for a split, that was an encouraging way for it to happen.”

Blinn (10-2) was unable to corral Temple in game one as the hosts scored seven runs in the first two innings. The Leopards added a six spot in the fourth.

The Bucs did all of their damage with the long ball, hitting four home runs against the Temple pitching staff.

Sophomore first baseman Daniela Lopez went deep to get Blinn on the board in the top of the second and sophomore catcher Cadence hit her first of three homers on the day in the top of the third. Wiese added a two-run shot in the fifth and sophomore third baseman Annie Beckendorf added a solo shot with two outs in the frame.

Blinn finished with eight hits, led by two apiece for Wiese and Beckendorf.

Sophomore pitcher Madisyn Bracknell (2-1) started for the Bucs and took the loss.

Following the offense-heavy opener, the two teams found themselves locked in pitchers’ duel in game two.

Sophomore Brynn Gallamore allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits with four walks and one strikeout en route to her fifth complete game of the season. She improved to 6-0.

Freshman second baseman Brianna Moreno had two of Blinn’s four hits, including a two-run double in the second frame.

Temple got one back in the home half of the third and tied the game in the fifth.

Wiese then put the Bucs ahead for good with her third homer of the day when she led off the sixth with a shot to center field.

Gallamore then worked around a pair of walks to escape a jam in the sixth and maneuvered through trouble in the seventh following a pair of one-out singles. She induced a fielder’s choice to short and a flyout to end the game.

"Brynn worked around seven hits and did her job in that second game," Church said. "We were really proud of what she did today, and we really needed it."

Blinn’s season resumes with a home doubleheader against Monroe University beginning at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at Hohlt Park in Brenham, Texas.