BRENHAM, Texas — Blinn College baseball was able to rally back with four runs in the eighth inning to defeat Galveston College 8-5 to close out Saturday’s doubleheader and win the conference series 2-1 at Leroy Dreyer Field.
Earlier in the day, Galveston managed to outscore Blinn 5-2. With the split, the Buccaneers move to 9-6 overall and 5-1 in Region XIV play.
Galveston 5 – Blinn 2
Although Blinn held a 1-0 lead heading into the sixth inning of the doubleheader opener, Galveston rallied for five runs in the final two innings of play to defeat the Buccaneers 5-2.
Marshall Skinner recorded Blinn’s only RBI in the game, while also scoring one run. Gray Rodgers was perfect at the plate after going 2-for-2, while Alec Sanchez scored Blinn’s final run of the game.
Kyle Gray gave the Buccaneers a solid start after throwing 5 1/3 innings and surrendering one run on eight hits, while striking out eight.
The game remained scoreless until the fourth inning when Skinner hit a solo shot over the fence for Blinn to take a 1-0 lead.
Blinn held the lead until the sixth inning when Galveston landed on the board with two runs.
Blinn quickly answered back in the bottom of the inning with one run to even the score 2-2. Alec Sanchez led off the inning with a walk and advanced to scoring position on a passed ball. After a groundout allowed him to advance to third, he scurried home on a wild pitch to even the score.
Galveston’s offense came back with a wave of momentum rolling into the seventh inning to score the final three runs of the game.
Blinn 8 – Galveston 5
Although Blinn trailed 5-4 entering the eighth inning, the Buccaneers never gave up as they managed to get four runs across the plate to ensure an 8-5 victory to close out the day and take the series 2-1.
Skinner, Sanchez, Hunter Trinidad and Zach Cherry each tallied two RBIs, while Sanchez and Cameron Gibbons each scored two runs in the win.
Eli Reichmann recorded his first win of the season after coming out of the bullpen and tossing 2/3 innings and surrendering only one hit, while striking out two.
Trailing 5-4 entering the eighth inning, the Buccaneers used small ball to tack on four runs to ensure a victory. After Gibbons walked and Ashy hit a single, Trinidad hit a one-run double for Blinn to even the score 5-5. Sanchez walked to load the bases and Cherry followed with a two-run single for Blinn to take a 7-5 lead for the first time since the third inning. Sanchez scored Blinn’s final run of the game on a groundout.
Earlier in the game, the Buccaneers made the first impression on the board in the third inning after Sanchez used a sacrifice fly to score Gibbons for Blinn to lead 1-0. However, Galveston came back with three runs in the top of the fourth inning.
Blinn evened the score 3-3 after chipping away at Galveston’s lead with one run in the fifth inning and one run in the sixth inning. Jacob Miller led off the fifth inning with a double and came home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Trinidad. Skinner evened the score in the sixth inning with a solo home run.
Galveston immediately took back a 5-3 lead after scoring two runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Sanchez manufactured one run for Blinn in the bottom of the inning with a home run as Blinn trailed 5-4 heading into eighth inning before rallying for the win.
The Buccaneers will take a break from conference play to take on No. 6 McLennan Community College on Monday, March 5 at 3 p.m. in a nine-inning game at Leroy Dreyer Field.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 36 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.