(Pictured: Blinn College’s Chloee Mason)
The Blinn College softball team earned a doubleheader split on the road against Alvin Community College on Thursday in Alvin, Texas.
The Buccaneers cruised to an 8-1 victory in the opener of the Region XIV South twin bill before falling 8-5 to end the day.
“We started out good with a victory in game one and a 4-0 lead in game two,” Buccaneers head coach Rick Church said. “Unfortunately, we were unable to finish with a win.”
Game one saw Blinn (15-28, 8-10 Region XIV South) pound out 10 hits, including two apiece for Chandler Talbot, Emily Kristynik, and Caitlyn Stevens.
Pitcher Chloee Mason was stellar in the circle, where she delivered a complete-game performance.
Alvin led 1-0 after three innings, but Kristynik smacked a two-run single to drive in Kayla Wallace and Keely Castillo to put the Bucs ahead. Kristynik later scored on Stevens’ RBI single to make it 3-1.
Blinn added five more runs in the top of the sixth to pull away.
Mason backed her offense with a five-hit outing in which she allowed an earned run with two strikeouts and four walks.
Blinn was poised for a sweep early in game two as Castillo’s two-run single and an RBI groundout from Acie Prince made it 3-0 in the first frame. Talbot drove in Kenley Strange with a ground ball single in the second to make it 4-0.
The Dolphins responded with a four-run third inning and jumped ahead 6-4 in the fourth.
(Pictured: Blinn College’s Emily Kristynik)
The Bucs’ final run came via Kristynik’s RBI double, which plated Prince, but Alvin kept control with a two-run sixth.
Mason started for Blinn and was charged with the loss after working 2 2/3 innings. Kailey Eldridge and Kaitlyn Sadler shared time in the circle to finish out the ballgame.
The Bucs host South zone foe Galveston College for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 25, at Hohlt Park in Brenham.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
