Mariah Gibson strikes out 13 as Buccaneers edge Shelton State, 2-0

Win over Shelton State lone bright spot as Blinn College loses two of three

ATMORE, Ala. – Blinn College softball used a strong pitching performance from Mariah Gibson with 13 strikeouts to earn a 2-0 victory over Shelton State Community College in the second game of the 2015 Creek Indian Juco Classic in Atmore, Ala.

The win came in the middle of 4-3 loss to Faulkner State Community College to begin the day and a 3-1 loss to Southern Union State Community College. The 1-2 record on the day moves the Buccaneers record to 5-3 overall.

“Mariah Gibson pitched a really good game against Shelton with 13 strikeouts,” said Blinn head coach Rick Church. “We just didn’t get enough offense and didn’t compete enough to win in the two losses.”

Gibson only gave up five hits in the shutout victory in the circle as base hits and runs were hard to come by.

Blinn was able to get a run in the second inning when Jazzmin Fritz hit a sacrifice fly to score Courtney White for a 1-0 lead. The only other run came on a Cheyenne Trader home run in the sixth inning for a 2-0 lead. That would be all the run support Gibson would need in the lone victory of the day for Blinn.

Against Faulkner in the opening game, Blinn was able to earn more hits but still fell 4-3 to Faulkner.

Blinn was able to strike first in the second inning when Lara Cecchetti scored on an error for a 1-0 lead. Faulkner took the lead with two runs in the third but Blinn was able to tie the game at 2-2 after an RBI double to center by White.

Faulkner took the lead right back in the fourth with a pair of runs for a 4-2 lead. Blinn waited until the final inning to get a rally together as Meghann Wrinkle singled in Alli Spivey to get within 4-3 with two outs but Faulkner was able to get a fly out to hand Blinn the loss.

Cecchetti had a soild game against Southern Union in the final game of the day but Blinn still fell 3-1. Southern Union grabbed a two-run lead with single runs scored in the second and third innings.

Gibson reached on a fielder’s choice in the sixth and later scored for the Buccaneers to cut the lead in half at 2-1 but Southern Union tacked on an insurance run to grab the two-run victory.

Blinn will have three more games Feb. 7 in the 2015 Creek Indian Classic starting with Gulf Coast State College at 12 p.m.

Story Courtesy of:
Jake Gordon
Blinn Communications & Sports Information Specialist