The Buccaneers earned a 4-2 victory in game one before routing the Bears, 12-1, for a seven-inning, run-rule triumph in game two.
“Any time you can sweep a doubleheader, it’s a good day,” Blinn head coach Dusty Hart said.
Blinn improved to 3-2 overall and will finish its series against Baton Rouge with a twin bill beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5, at Leroy Dreyer Field.
The Buccaneers earned the victory in Saturday’s opener behind a tremendous start from sophomore pitcher Sam Crain and a stellar relief stint from sophomore pitcher Tate Bethel.
Crain didn’t factor into the decision but worked four innings of three-hitball. He allowed one run (unearned) with two walks and struck out eight. Bethel came on in the fifth frame and tossed three innings. He allowed one earned run on two hits with four strikeouts and a free pass.
“I just had to fill up the strike zone … that’s my job coming out of the bullpen,” Bethel said. “I just had to put them away and get the job done. Then at the end, you have to let your defense work behind you, and Marshall and all of the guys behind me did a heck of a job today.”
(Pictured: Blinn College sophomore Tate Bethel delivers a pitch during a game against Baton Rouge on Feb. 4)
Blinn’s offense did its part in supporting its pitching staff, starting with a solo home run from freshman Tanner Reaves in the bottom of the first inning.
Baton Rouge tied the game in the top of the second, and the score would remain tied until Bucs sophomore Cam Wheeler led off with a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth. Reaves drove in another run later in the inning on an RBI fielder’s choice before freshman Brandon Bishop — who doubled earlier in the frame — crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
The Bears threatened in the top of the seven, scoring on an RBI single that put runners on first and third with two outs. Baton Rouge’s Jack Walker then stepped to the plate and sent a shallow pop fly to left field, where Blinn freshman left fielder Marshall Lipsey made a spectacular falling catch to end the game.
“That was a tough play to make to end the game but that was big,” Hart said. “If Marshall doesn’t make that catch, we’re probably in trouble.”
Blinn finished with five hits, led by two for sophomore catcher Ian Collier.
In game two, the Bucs got going quickly with a four-run first inning.
(Pictured: Blinn’s Tanner Reaves prepares to make contact for an RBI fielder’s choice during a game against Baton Rouge on Feb. 4)
After starting pitcher Kaden Dydalewicz tossed a scoreless top half of the first, the Bucs used three hits, a walk, and a stolen base to jump ahead in the home half.
After Lipsey walked out of the leadoff spot, he swiped second and scored on a Bishop single. After Reaves singled to put two men on, freshman Kash Durkin sent a three-run homer over the wall in right field for a 4-0 lead.
An RBI single from Reaves and walks to Collier and Durkin with the bases loaded in the fourth pushed three more runs across as the lead grew to 7-0.
Baton Rouge ended the shutout with a solo home run in the top of the sixth, but the Bucs got back to work in the seventh.
Collier led off the frame with a solo shot to center field, and after Durkin singled and sophomore Ryan Scott walked, a fielder’s choice allowed Durkin to score. Bishop drew a walk with the bases loaded and Reaves singled in Lipsey to enforce the run rule.
Blinn finished with nine hits, led by a three-hit game for Reaves. Collier and Durkin had two hits apiece. The Bucs also drew 11 walks, including three for Lipsey.
“I was a little worried because we hadn’t seen any live pitching since the last time we played on Jan. 28,” said Hart, whose team had been practicing indoors due to recent rainy and cold weather. “I wasn’t sure what to expect today but they came out and really swung the bats.”
Dydalewicz continued the theme of strong pitching with a one-hitter across five innings of work. He fanned four and walked none. Freshman Shane Connell hurled two innings of relief, allowing one earned run on two hits while striking out three with one walk.
“If you can pitch like that, you’re going to feel good about your ballclub,” Hart added. “That was really the theme of the day. Our pitchers did their job, and our hitters passed the bat up and down the lineup and gave our guys on the mound the support they needed to do their job.”
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
