By MIKE MONTFORT
'Boom!' went the Navarro bats in Game 2.
The Bulldogs got a grand slam from Tatum Briggs, plus homers from Faith Fernandez and Harley Davis in an 18-hit attack to earn a 10-6 win and a doubleheader split Friday with the Blinn Buccaneers at Jesse and Lou Cummings Field.
Coach Jessica Karenke-Burke's Bulldogs bounced back from a tough 5-3 first-game loss to reach double-digit scoring for the third time this year, while posting a single-season high in hits. Briggs, Fernandez and Davis knocked in nine runs to back the complete-game pitching performance of Braylee Forse.
Forse battled through 126 pitches, scattered seven hits, walked one and struck out a season-high 13 batters. While surrendering six runs, only two were earned.
Third baseman Keely Castillo's two-run homer in the second inning drew an immediate equal response from Navarro's Faith Fernandez off Buccaneer starter Nevada Donlik in the home half. Fernandez gave NC a 3-2 in the bottom of the third with a single to left that enabled Briggs to score from second.
NC ran Dolnik from the circle in a six-hit, five-run fourth inning.
Consecutive singles by Jenna Rude, London Reue and Maddie Wright loaded the bases and prompted reliever Skylar Shanahan's entry. Briggs belted her first grand slam -- her team-leading third homer of the season -- to give the 'Dawgs a 7-2 cushion. Islas singled on the first pitch after Briggs' homer. Her courtesy runner, Janay Reynolds, promptly stole second and scored on Callie Waller's base hit.
GAME 1: Blinn 5, Navarro 3
Centerfielder Mikaela Lopez hit a two-out, two-strike, three-run home in the fourth inning that gave Blinn a 4-0 lead. Navarro trailed 5-0 before rallying with three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but left two aboard and the potential winning run at the plate.
BC courtesy runner Italie Speziale, subbing after a Shanahan base hit, scored Blinn's first run of Game 1 after third baseman Sam Rodriguez' one-out, second-inning single.