LUFKIN, Texas – Just another day and another game-winning hit for Blinn College softball as this game-winner was delivered by Meghann Wrinkle in the bottom of the seventh to give the Buccaneers a 4-3 victory over Angelina College Sunday afternoon in Lufkin.
With two outs and two runners on in the seventh, Wrinkle stepped up to line a single to left to score Katie Andrie from second to send Blinn into the semifinals of the Region XIV Tournament. With the win, the Buccaneers will now face the only other unbeaten team in Navarro College Monday, May 4 at 3 p.m. The second consecutive walk-off victory for Blinn improves its overall record to 41-13. The game will be streamed live at www.psnsports.com.
“We missed out on a few opportunities to score in this game but we were able to keep our chin up and not get down on ourselves,” said Blinn head coach Rick Church. “We are playing together and good things happen when we play together.”
Wrinkle had the hot bat all game as she went 3-for-4 with a double and two singles while bringing in two runs. Jordin Wilkins also brought in a pair of runs. Mariah Gibson surrendered three early runs in the first three innings but threw zeros the rest of the way to earn the victory in the circle while striking out six.
Angelina struck first with a single run in the second inning and two in the third to build up a 3-0 lead. Blinn was able to battle back in the bottom of the third when Delilah Pacheco walked and then Alli Spivey singled to get two runners on. Wilkins brought in both Pacheco and Spivey with a single to left to get Blinn within 3-2 after three.
Courtney White was able to draw a walk to start the fifth and Andrie came in to run for her. After Andrie advanced to second on a sacrifice, Wrinkle was able to deliver her second-biggest hit of the game with a double to center to knot the game at 3-3.
After going extra innings the day before, Blinn looked to avoid the eighth inning with a rally in the seventh. Andrie started it off with a one-out single and then Gibson reached on an error to get a pair on base with two outs. Wrinkle came through again in the seventh with her single to left to score Andrie for the game-winner.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 32 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit: www.buccaneersports.com.
