BRENHAM, Texas – Blinn College baseball took full advantage of an opportunity to move up in the standings by beating Wharton County Junior College twice by the score of 6-1 and 6-5 Saturday evening at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham.
The pair of victories gives the Buccaneers a four-game winning streak and improves their overall record to 13-9 and 5-5 in Region XIV play. Wharton sits in fourth place after tonight’s games with a 4-6 record in conference.
“We were really looking to get two wins today and then roll over to Wharton and have the momentum with us,” said Blinn assistant coach Jordan Kopycinski. “If we win the first game tomorrow then we win the series and that is what it’s all about.”
Blinn 6 – Wharton 1
Blinn got a quality effort on the mound from Blaine Suehs and all the run support it needed in the first two innings to take the opening game 6-1 over Wharton.
Suehs started and pitched five innings of four-hit ball while striking out seven. Beau O’Hara came on in the sixth and gave up only one run in two innings to preserve the win for Suehs.
Angel De La Fuente delivered the bulk of the offense with two home runs and three runs batted in for the Buccaneers. Sam McElreath had an RBI double and Patrick King also hit a double in the win.
Blinn jumped on Wharton in the first inning when Jay Anderson led off with a walk and then came around to score on a double hit by McElreath to right-center for a 1-0 lead. De La Fuente doubled the lead in the second with a solo home run to left for a 2-0 edge.
The Buccaneers were able to take advantage of a couple Wharton errors to increase its lead as King and Elijah MacNamee both scored after an error for a 4-0 lead. King reached base with a double and MacNamee reached on an error. Wharton did get one run in the sixth to pull within 4-1 of Blinn.
After Wharton hit Hillin Warren with a pitch to begin the sixth, De La Fuente made Wharton pay for the mistake by blasting his second home run to left for a commanding 6-1 lead that would hold up as the final score.
Blinn 6 – Wharton 5
Blinn was able to overcome giving up a grand slam and trailing 4-1 in the fourth to come from behind and secure a 6-5 victory to seal the sweep over Wharton.
The Buccaneers blasted three home runs in the second game as George Pappas knocked two in with his while Anderson and Walker Winders both blasted solo shots. Anderson also added a double for a two-hit nightcap while Austen Swift added a single and double in the win.
“Pitching did well for us today and we were able to supply enough runs,” Anderson said. “Hopefully we can carry over this momentum into tomorrow when we face Wharton again.”
Nick Masarik overcame giving up a grand slam to pitch 5 1-3 innings to get the win while striking out five. Nathan Alexander picked up the extended save after sealing the victory with 3 2-3 innings pitched and allowing only one run while punching out five.
Anderson helped Blinn strike first with a solo home run to right for a 1-0 lead in the third. That lead didn’t last long as Wharton scored four runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead.
The Buccaneers would fight back in the fifth when De La Fuente led off with a walk and Pappas followed with a home run just below the scoreboard in left to get within 4-3 of Wharton. Winders tied the game with a solo home run the following at bat to make the score 4-4. MacNamee capped the scoring in the inning with a sacrifice fly to center to give Blinn a 5-4 lead.
“I think I am starting to settle down at the plate,” Pappas said, who is a transfer from the University of Houston. “I think coming to a new school it took some getting used to but now I am getting comfortable with my teammates and coaches.”
Swift helped to tack on a much-needed insurance run in the sixth as he started the inning off with a double and then eventually scored on a balk for a 6-4 edge. That run proved vital as Wharton added a run in the seventh to get within 6-5 but that would be as close as Alexander would let the game get as the Buccaneers held on for the sweep.
Blinn will hit the road Sunday, March 13 for a doubleheader against Wharton that will begin at 2 p.m.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 32 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.
