LONGVIEW, Texas — Blinn College softball opened the 2018 Region XIV Round Robin tournament by run-ruling Angelina College 15-3 and Kilgore College 12-4 in five innings each on Friday in Longview.
The pair of wins increased Blinn’s overall record to 10-8.
Blinn 15 – Angelina 3
Blinn did not have any trouble jumping out ahead of Angelina as the Buccaneers scored the first 15 runs en route to a 15-3 run-rule victory in five innings to open the day.
Sydney Gutierrez led Blinn’s offense with a grand slam and five RBIs. Tori Alvarez-Lopez and Abby Olejniczak followed with two RBIs each, while Alivia Villarreal, Amy Alexander and Sarah Cedillo each drove in one run. Alvarez-Lopez and Cedillo scored three runs each in the victory, while Gutierrez and Amber Langston each recorded two.
Meghan Morris picked up her sixth win in the circle after throwing a complete five-inning game and surrendering three runs on three hits, while striking out five.
Blinn jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the opening inning after Alvarez-Lopez and Langston each scored on one-run singles off the bats of Villarreal and Alexander, and Gutierrez scored on an error.
Blinn extended its lead to 4-0 in the second inning after Gutierrez grounded out to score Alvarez-Lopez.
Blinn’s biggest offensive blow came in the third inning when the Buccaneers scored nine runs to gain a 13-0 advantage. Alvarez-Lopez started the inning off with a two-run double, while Gutierrez followed with a grand slam for Blinn to scoop up six runs. With two outs Cedillo and Olejniczak each hit one-run singles to add two more runs to the board.
In the fifth inning, Blinn tacked on two more runs after Calli Birch scored on an error and Cedillo stole home.
Angelina tried to prevent the run-rule in the bottom of the fifth inning by scoring three runs, but fell short as Blinn claimed the victory.
Blinn 12 – Kilgore 4
Gabriela Gomez recorded four RBIs in Blinn’s 12-4 run-rule victory over Kilgore College in five innings to close out the opening day of the 2018 Region XIV Round Robin Tournament undefeated.
Villarreal followed with three RBIs, while Morgan Gray was perfect at the plate after going 3-for-3 and scoring two runs. Courtney Ogle drove in two runs, while Georgina and Gutierrez each drove in one for Blinn’s fourth straight victory.
Kassidy Rhoudes claimed her fourth win of the season after tossing all five innings and surrendering four runs on six hits, while striking out two.
Blinn leaped out to a four-run lead in the first inning after Langston scored on a groundout, Gonzales scored on an error and Villarreal hit a two-run homer.
Kilgore answered back in the second inning with three runs to keep the game close, 4-3, until Blinn scored five runs in the bottom of the inning to pull ahead, 9-3. Langston scored the first run of the inning after Villarreal walked the bases loaded. Gray scored the next run on a fielder’s choice and Gutierrez and Villarreal each scored after Gomez and Ogle hit back-to-back singles. Gomez scored the final run of the inning on an error.
Kilgore added one run in the fourth inning, but Gomez hit a three-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning for Blinn to claim the run-rule win.
The Buccaneers look to remain undefeated in the 2018 Region XIV Round Robin tournament on Saturday, March 3 when they take on Bossier Parish Community College at 1 p.m. and Trinity Valley Community College at 3 p.m.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 36 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.