GALVESTON, Texas – The second-ranked Blinn Buccaneers kicked off the season with a pair of wins at the Galveston College Invitational here Friday.
Blinn defeated Kilgore 8-4 and topped Seminole (Okla.) State 13-2 in six innings before falling to McLennan 9-1 in five innings.
Caitie Carney and Shelbe Sterling each drove in two runs against Kilgore, while Kristina Riley and Taylor Guidry each added an RBI. Freshman Shannon O’Connor earned the complete-game win for the Bucs.
Blinn scored six runs in the fifth inning, then tacked on seven more in the sixth to defeat Seminole St. via mercy rule. All-American Tiffani McKnight went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and Riley was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
Shelbe Sterling went 3-for-4 while Christa Hartnett and Sydney Wellmann each had a pair of hits and drove in one.
Freshman Katie Castillon struck out six on her way to the win.
The Buccaneers stumbled in their third game of the day, committing five errors behind Carney, who took the loss. O’Connor came on in relief in the third inning and pitched the rest of the way.
Carney scored the Bucs’ only run of the game with a solo homer in the fifth inning.
Blinn continues tournament play Saturday with an 11 a.m. contest against Navarro and a 3 p.m. game against Temple.
For more information on Blinn softball, visit www.buccaneersports.com.