BRENHAM, Texas – No. 14 Blinn College softball had a hard time getting runs on the board and Galveston College took advantage to sweep the doubleheader by the scores of 1-0 and 7-2 on Friday afternoon at Hohlt Park.
“What it comes down to is that we got outcompeted today and credit to Galveston for keeping the pressure on and the momentum on their side,” said Rick Church, Blinn head coach. “We have to focus on tomorrow, and come back and do well against Alvin.”
With the losses, Blinn falls to 17-11 overall and 6-2 in Region XIV play.
Galveston 1 – Blinn 0
Pitcher Meghan Morris was solid in the circle for Blinn, but the Buccaneers were held without a run in a 1-0 Galveston victory to open the doubleheader.
Morris pitched well enough to get the win as she went all seven innings and only surrendered one run on four hits, while striking out three and walking two.
Two singles by Amy Alexander and Tori Alvarez-Lopez, and a double by Morgan Gray was all Blinn managed on offense.
Galveston scored its lone run in the first inning that would hold up until the final pitch.
Alexander hit a single in the second inning to account for Blinn’s first hit. The Buccaneers had a chance to score in the sixth inning after Gray led off the inning with a double and Alvarez-Lopez followed with a bunt single and then stole second base. However, Galveston managed to retire the next two batters to end Blinn’s rally attempt with two runners in scoring position.
Galveston 7 – Blinn 2
The Buccaneers swung the bats in the second game of the doubleheader, but after leaving nine runners stranded they ended up falling to Galveston, 7-2.
The Blinn offense managed seven hits in the game and Abby Olejniczak and Alexander led the Buccaneers with two hits each. Alvarez-Lopez, Sarah Cedillo and Amber Langston produced the other hits, while Alvarez-Lopez and Olejniczak also each drove in one run.
Kassidy Rhoudes started the game and surrendered four runs on four hits in 4 1/3 innings, while Kamryn Boucher pitched the final 2 2/3 innings and surrendered three runs on five hits, while striking out one.
Galveston scored two runs in the second inning to open the game with a lead it would never surrender. In the bottom half of the inning the Buccaneers cut Galveston’s lead in half after Olejniczak doubled for Gray to score.
In the third inning, Galveston added two runs to the board to pull ahead 4-2.
The Buccaneers scored their final run in the fourth inning after Cedillo doubled and Alvarez-Lopez drove her in with a single for Blinn to trail 4-3.
In the fifth inning, the Buccaneers had a chance to tie the game or take the lead after loading the bases with zero outs. Langston led off with a walk, Alexander followed with a single and Alivia Villarreal was hit by a pitch to load the bases. However, all three runners were left stranded.
Galveston scored three insurance runs in the seventh inning to pull ahead 7-2 for the win.
Blinn will return to Hohlt Park on Saturday, March 24 to host Alvin Community College in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Blinn’s doubleheader will be the Blinn College Alumni & Friends/Lettermens Association game.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 36 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.
