The Blinn College baseball team continues to dominate at the NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.
The second-seeded Buccaneers improved to 2-0 in the tournament Monday with a commanding 10-2 run-rule victory over eighth-seeded Wabash Valley College at Sam Suplizio Field. The win marked Blinnโs second straight run-rule victory in the tournament while extending the teamโs winning streak to 15 games. The Buccaneers have also scored double-digit runs in six consecutive contests.
Blinn will now advance to face sixth-seeded Miami Dade College at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Despite an early 9 a.m. Mountain Time first pitch, the Buccaneers wasted little time getting their offense going. Sophomore shortstop Jacob Bohacek opened the scoring in the first inning with a solo home run to right field, his third homer of the World Series.
The Buccaneers added to the lead in the fourth inning when sophomore second baseman Hunter Smolinski reached on an error that allowed two runs to score, giving Blinn a 3-0 advantage.
Wabash Valley cut into the lead with two runs in the fifth inning, but Blinn immediately responded with another offensive surge. Freshman third baseman Ryley Leininger delivered a three-run home run to center field later in the inning after a walk to freshman catcher Zachary Tuxhorn and a single by sophomore utility player Benji Barrera.
Leininger added an RBI single in the sixth inning before freshman designated hitter Dane Perry blasted a three-run homer to right field to cap the scoring and trigger the run-rule victory.
Blinn finished with 12 hits on the day. Perry led the way with three hits and three RBIs while finishing a triple shy of the cycle. Leininger added two hits and four RBIs. Bohacek and Barrera each collected two hits.
On the mound, redshirt freshman Luke Ekdall earned the win after another strong outing. Ekdall allowed two earned runs on six hits while striking out five over six innings. The right-hander now has 117 strikeouts this season, leading NJCAA Division I baseball.
Sophomore left-hander Ben Polleschultz closed out the game in the seventh inning by striking out the final three batters after issuing a leadoff walk.
Blinn, now 47-12 on the season, has continued its power surge at the World Series after also hitting three home runs in its opening-round victory over defending national champion Salt Lake Community College.
The Buccaneers have competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and have captured 53 national championships since 1987.
