TEMPLE, Texas – Freshman pitcher Shannon O’Connor struck out 17 batters Saturday as the second-ranked Blinn College softball team split the final day of the Temple Tournament.
Blinn defeated McLennan 5-3 before falling to Crowder (Mo.) 6-3.
O’Connor struck out a season-high nine batters in the win over McLennan, working around seven walks and five hits.
Tiffani McKnight got the Buccaneers on the scoreboard with an RBI single in the first inning, then hit a two-run home run in the third. Shelbe Sterling hit a solo home run in the fourth inning and Payton Webb hit an RBI single in the fifth.
O’Connor struck out the side in the seventh inning to seal the win.
O’Connor was arguably more effective in the loss to Crowder, striking out eight while scattering three walks and four hits. But of those four hits, three were solo home runs and Crowder’s other three runs were all unearned. Sophomore Caitie Carney pitched the sixth inning without allowing a hit.
Blinn got on the scoreboard in the third inning on an RBI single from Webb, and in the fifth Kristina Davila homered. Taylor Guidry doubled and scored on an RBI single by Marissa Purcell in the sixth inning.
Guidry finished 2-for-3 with two doubles, while Webb was 2-for-4.
Blinn is now 9-9 on the season and will play in the Region XIV Crossover March 1-3 in Longview.
For more information on Blinn softball, visit www.buccaneersports.com.