Second-Seeded Blinn Rolls Past Defending Champion Salt Lake In World Series Opener

The Blinn College baseball team opened the NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series in dominant fashion Saturday, rolling to a 13-3 run-rule victory over Salt Lake Community College at Sam Suplizio Field in Grand Junction, Colorado.

The second-seeded Buccaneers improved to 46-12 overall while extending their winning streak to 14 games. The victory also marked Blinn’s third World Series opening-round win in its last four appearances at the JUCO World Series.

Blinn’s offense exploded behind a huge day from shortstop Jacob Bohacek, who blasted two home runs and drove in five runs. Ryley Leininger added a grand slam as the Buccaneers continued their recent offensive surge, scoring double-digit runs for the fifth straight game.

Salt Lake grabbed an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a three-run homer, but Blinn wasted no time answering.

Bohacek put the Buccaneers on the board with a solo homer to left-center field in the bottom of the first. After Drew Britton and Zachary Tuxhorn reached base and Benji Barrera was hit by a pitch, Leininger delivered the biggest swing of the game with a grand slam over the right-field wall to put Blinn ahead 5-3.

The Buccaneers added three more runs in the third inning after Reece Lunsford doubled and Kason Atkins worked a walk. Bohacek then launched his second homer of the afternoon to extend the lead to 8-3.

Blinn broke the game open in the fourth inning with five more runs. The Buccaneers capitalized on a Salt Lake error, added a run on a balk, got an RBI single from Lunsford, another RBI knock from Bohacek, and scored again on a passed ball.

Blinn finished with 10 hits in the victory. Bohacek led the way with three hits, while Barrera and Lunsford collected two hits each. Leininger finished with four RBIs.

On the mound, Dylan Thompson rebounded after the rough opening inning and settled into complete control. The sophomore right-hander tossed a complete game, allowing three earned runs on five hits while walking two and throwing just 67 pitches.

The Buccaneers will return to action Monday morning when they face Wabash Valley College in the second round of the NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series.