BRENHAM, Texas โ One game ended with the mercy rule and then other was a one-run victory but both games came out as wins for Blinn College softball over Southeastern Community College by the score 8-0 and 8-7 March 17 at Hohlt Park in Brenham.
The pair of victories gives Blinn an improved record at 24-8 and its conference record remains at 6-0. The Buccaneers now have 12 wins in a row with the last eight wins coming at home.
Mariah Gibson got the start in the first game and pitched all five innings and only allowed three hits while striking out four in the shutout. Kayla Lahrmann was able to cash in with three RBIs without a hit while Avery Mullendore picked up two singles in the win.
Blinn got the scoring going in the first inning when Alli Spivey drew a one-out walk and then later scored on a Southeastern error for a 1-0 lead.
The second inning was also successful for Blinn as it loaded the bases after a single by Seeley Orsak and Mullendore while Lahrmann walked. Tori Gleason drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and then Delilah Pacheco singled in a run for a 3-0 lead. Lahrmann was later able to score on a Southeastern error for a 4-0 advantage.
Blinn loaded the bases again in the third inning when Gibson was hit by a pitch, Lara Cecchetti singled and Mullendore walked. The only run Blinn was able to get across was when Lahrmann was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for a 5-0 lead.
With a chance at ending the game early, Blinn went to work in the fifth by loading the bases again with a single by Gibson, Orsak reaching on an error and a single by Mullendore. Gibson, Orsak and Mullendore each scored on Southeastern errors to end the game at 8-0 in the fifth.
Southeastern put up more of a fight in the second game as the score was tied 7-7 in the top of the seventh. Mullendore was able to put Blinn on top after a single in the bottom of the seventh to pull out the 8-7 victory.
Mullendore was effective in producing runs all game with three RBIs on three singles. Spivey also knocked in two runs with the help of two singles and a double in the win.
Both teams came out scoring in the first as Southeastern scored two runs in the opening inning but Blinn came right back. Spivey got it started with a one-out double and then Courtney White followed with an RBI double to cut the Southeastern lead to 2-1. Jaiden Rawls tied the game with a sacrifice fly to level the score at 2-2 after an inning.
After four scoreless innings for both teams, Blinn was able to touch the plate again in the sixth. Katie Andrie started it with a one-out double and Meghann Wrinkle followed with a single to get two on.
Mullendore knocked in a pair with a single to left to give Blinn a 4-2 lead. Pacheco brought in a run with an RBI single to right while Spivey also contributed a two-run single to center for a 7-2 lead.
Surprisingly, the Blinn lead didnโt hold as Southeastern scored five runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 7-7. Blinn was able to gain the upper hand in the seventh as Andrie reached on an error and Orsak came in to run for Andrie and then Mullendore ended the game with her single to center for the 8-7 victory.
Blinn will host another non-conference game March 22 as it will host Louisiana State University-Eunice for a double-header that begins at 12 p.m.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 30 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.
