The Blinn College softball team picked up two more wins to conclude the Region XIV Crossover Tournament on Saturday in Mesquite, Texas.
The Buccaneers powered their way to a pair of five-inning victories with a 16-3 win over Northeast Texas Community College and an 18-3 rout of Bossier Parish Community College.
Blinn went 3-1 at the tournament after splitting two games in the Crossover opener on Friday.
“We put up a lot of runs on the board today because we capitalized on many of our opportunities,” Buccaneers head coach Rick Church said. “That was a great way to finish the Crossover.”
Blinn (14-8-1) began Saturday by making quick work of Northeast Texas.
The Bucs scored seven runs in the first inning, and went on to score at least two runs in the second, third, and fourth frames to back winning pitcher Peyton Welker.
Blinn finished with 16 hits, led by a 4-for-4 ballgame for sophomore Alayna Calvillo, who doubled, drove in three runs, and scored four times as part of her performance. Freshman Kayden Harms had three hits and three RBIs; freshman Haley Hughes went 3 for 5 with two runs and a run batted in; freshman Kayden Harms had three hits, three RBIs, and a run; sophomore Ripley Welker went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run, and freshman T’Era Garrett had a hit, scored a run, and plated four. Freshman Bailey Boetjer also had one base hit with an RBI and three runs scored.
In the pitcher’s circle, Peyton Welker tossed a complete game for her eighth victory of the season. She allowed three earned runs on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
The Bucs ended their day with another impressive offensive showing that proved too much for Bossier.
Blinn opened the game with a nine-run inning and another seven runs in the fourth. Single tallies in the second and fifth frames helped round out the Bucs outburst.
Boetjer went 4 for 4 with a single, a double, and a triple to fall a home run shy of the cycle. She drove in three runs and scored three times. Harms added three singles with a run and an RBI; sophomore Erynne Castillo went 2 for 4 with four RBIs and a pair of runs; Hughes had a hit, two RBIs, and three runs; and freshman Darian DeLeon went 2 for 2 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Calvillo and sophomore Alyssa Boozy also drove in runs for the Bucs.
In the circle, freshman Paige Bunting earned the win with five innings of work. She allowed three earned runs on five hits with six punchouts and a pair of walks.
Blinn opened the Crossover on Friday with a 10-2 victory over Tyler Junior College before falling to Trinity Valley Community College 11-2 in six innings.
Peyton Welker earned the victory against Tyler with a two-hitter across five innings of work. She allowed two earned runs with two walks and six strikeouts. Castillo paced Blinn’s 11-hit attack with three base knocks and an RBI. Ripley Welker homered and drove in three runs; Calvillo went 2 for 3 with three RBIs; and Boozy, Harms, and DeLeon also had one RBI apiece.
The Bucs matched Trinity Valley with eight hits, but were unable to muster much in the run column.
The Cardinals scored five runs in the top of the first before the Bucs responded with two in the home half of the frame.
Hughes and Ripley Welker each had two hits, while Boetjer drove in both runs.
Freshman pitcher Bella De Los Santo took the loss after lasting one inning.
Next up for Blinn is a road doubleheader at fifth-ranked Grayson College scheduled for a noon start on Sunday, March 10, in Denison, Texas.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 45 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
