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Blinn College

Scoreboard

Grace Bracken & Bella De Los Santos 2023-24
3
Blinn College BLINN CO 0-0
6
Winner Odessa College ODESSA C 0-0
Blinn College BLINN CO
0-0
3
Final
6
Odessa College ODESSA C
0-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Blinn College BLINN CO 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 6 6
Odessa College ODESSA C 0 0 2 2 0 2 X 6 7 2

W: J. Lorigan (1-0) L: Bunting, Paige ()

2
Odessa College ODESSA C 0-0
5
Winner Blinn College BLINN CO 0-0
Odessa College ODESSA C
0-0
2
Final
5
Blinn College BLINN CO
0-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Odessa College ODESSA C 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 6 3
Blinn College BLINN CO 0 0 0 0 4 1 X 5 9 0

W: De Los Santos, Bella (1-0) L: H. Milley (0-1)

Game Recap: Softball |

Blinn responds to rough opener with impressive rebound to earn split with No. 18 Odessa

The Buccaneers face No. 2 McLennan on Saturday to conclude the Battle at the Bosque

The Blinn College softball team kicked off its 2025 season with a doubleheader split with No. 18 Odessa College at the Battle at the Bosque on Friday in Wco, Texas.

The Buccaneers fell to the Wranglers 6-3 in game one before rebounding for a 5-2 victory to end the day.

Blinn concludes the two-day competition with a doubleheader against second-ranked McLennan Community College at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The Bucs season got off to a rocky start Friday, as seven defensive miscues spoiled a strong outing from sophomore pitcher Paige Bunting.

Bunting took the loss despite tossing a complete game in which she gave up six runs (two earned) on five hits with five strikeouts and three walks.

"Paige pitched far better than the score would indicate," Blinn head coach Rick Church said. "Today we learned that we can't give teams four or five outs in an inning."

Odessa scored two runs in the third and fourth innings and carried a 4-0 lead into the sixth inning before the Bucs got going offensively.

Sophomore Darian De Leon smacked a one-out double and freshman Cadence Wiese drove her in with a two-bagger of her own. Freshman Annie Beckendorf followed with a single before an RBI single from sophomore Bailey Boetjer and an Odessa error pushed in two runs to make it 4-3.

The Wranglers answered right back with two runs in the bottom of the frame.

Blinn out-hit Odessa 6-5. 

Wiese had two hits to lead the Bucs.

In game two, Blinn got another strong pitching performance – this time from sophomore Bella De Los Santos – and found some offensive momentum in the later innings to earn its first win.

Odessa was ahead 2-0 after 4 1/2 frames, but the Bucs answered with a four-run outburst in their half of the fifth.

"We learned today that we need to be ready to swing the bat regardless of the count," Church said. "We took too many good pitches throughout the day, but I was happy we broke out in game two."

Blinn's game-winning rally began when sophomore Kaden Harmes walked to lead off the Bucs' fifth. De Leon followed with a single to push Harms to third. One out later, Beckendorf singled in Harms. A Boetjer single loaded the bases and freshman Halle Scheel doubled on a ground ball to center field to push Blinn ahead 3-2. Sophomore T'Era Garrett reached on an error to load the bags once more and sophomore Grace Bracken plated Boetjer on a sacrifice fly.

Wiese belted a solo home run to right field to close out the scoring in the sixth.

Blinn again out-hit Odessa, this time with a 9-6 edge. Boetjer and Scheel each had two hits. 

De Los Santos did her part in the pitcher's circle, where she tossed a six-hit complete game. She allowed two earned runs with three strikeouts and four walks.

"We needed a response after that first game and Bella and our offense answered the call," Church added. "Hopefully we learn to respond more quickly after a tough inning and not just after a tough game." 

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 49 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
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