LUFKIN, Texas – Blinn College softball had its offense firing in the first game against Angelina College for a 14-2 victory in five innings but Angelina fired right back to win the second game of the double-header 2-1 to split the pair of games Sunday afternoon in Lufkin.
After the split against Angelina and six games in three days over the weekend, Blinn’s overall record moves to 5-6.
Meghann Wrinkle supplied all of the extra-base hits for Blinn with two triples and a double while knocking in six runs. Nicole Garcia went 4 for 5 and scored four times. Kalli Edwards also picked up four singles and scored three times. Bobbi Berkey picked up the win in the circle by pitching all five innings and allowing only two runs on five hits.
The Buccaneers got to scoring right away as Garcia started with a single and then Jordin Wilkins knocked her in with a single to left for a 1-0 lead. Angelina countered with two runs in the bottom of the first for a 2-1 lead after one.
Katy Sawyer started the second with a single and later tied the game at 2-2 after touching the plate after a single to center by Garcia. Wrinkle followed with a three-run triple to clear the bases for a 5-2 lead. Katie Andrie later singled to left to bring in Wrinkle for a 6-2 lead in the second.
The second inning just opened the floodgates of offense for the Buccaneers, as the third inning was also a productive inning. Edwards singled to get on base and later scored on an error for the seventh run. Wilkins followed with a sacrifice fly for an 8-2 lead. Wrinkle and Andrie later scored by way of an error for a 10-2 lead.
Wrinkle capped off her impressive day with her second triple in the fourth inning and brought in three more runs in the process for a 13-2 lead. Andrie followed with a single to score Wrinkle for a commanding 14-2 lead. That would be enough for Blinn to win by way of the mercy rule in the fifth inning.
In the second game, Blinn was able to outhit Angelina 8 to 4 but couldn’t come up with the victory as Angelina held on for the one-run victory. Sam Junkin pitched four innings and only allowed two runs on three hits while Faith Genoway came in the final two innings and kept Angelina off the scoreboard. Ashley Langston and Andrie each had two singles in the loss and Cheyenne Trader had an RBI single in the sixth inning.
Blinn will play in the San Jacinto College Softball Tournament starting on Friday, Feb. 12 with an opening game against No. 1 Temple College at 12:30 p.m.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 32 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.
