BRYAN, Texas — The Blinn College baseball team (5-2) split a doubleheader on the opening day of the Brazos JUCO Classic on Friday.
The Buccaneers lost to Paris Junior College, 6-4, before upsetting No. 17 Weatherford College, 4-1.
“We got an outstanding effort on the mound from Trevor Mott and Eric Oakes and that is a very good offensive Weatherford team that those two held in check for nine innings,” said Harvey McIntyre, Blinn head coach. “I am proud of the way that we finished today and we have another big test tomorrow in Howard and Navarro.”
Paris 6 – Blinn 4
Paris held onto an early lead in order to defeat Blinn, 6-4, in the first game of the doubleheader.
Kam Kelton led Blinn’s offense with two hits and three RBIs, while Preston Hoffart scored two runs in the game.
Jack Driskell surrendered five runs and seven hits in five innings, while striking out eight. Dylan Theut was solid out of the bullpen for three innings, only surrendering one run and one hit.
Paris jumped out to a 4-0 advantage after scoring one run in the second inning and three runs in the third, and held the lead for the remainder of the game.
Blinn scored its first run in the fourth inning after Hoffart led off with a double and scored on a groundout. However, Paris scored in the fifth inning to continue holding a four-run lead.
The Buccaneers rallied for three runs in the sixth inning to gain on Paris 5-4. After Hoffart led off with a walk, Tyler Russell and Kelton hit back-to-back doubles for two runs to score. Caden Homniok kept things rolling with a single to move Kelton to third and then he scored Blinn’s final run on a groundout.
Paris scored its final run in the seventh inning to lead 6-4.
Blinn 4 – No. 17 Weatherford 1
Mott tossed five scoreless innings to help Blinn upset No. 17 Weatherford to conclude the day.
Mott earned the win on the mound after striking out seven and not allowing a run in 5 2/3 innings. Oakes only gave up one hit in 3 1/3 innings of relief for the save.
Dalton Davis led Blinn’s offense with two RBIs, while Ben Hovda drew two walks and scored two runs. Jack Schell went 2-for-3 to knock in one run and score one run, while Kelton scored a run in the win.
Following two scoreless innings, Blinn landed on the board with two runs. Kelton led off the inning with a double and Hovda joined him on base with a walk. Westley Schields used a sacrifice bunt to move Kelton and Hovda into scoring position and Schell followed with a one-run single. Schell scored Blinn’s second run by stealing home.
Blinn stayed on top 2-0 until the seventh inning when the Buccaneers extended their lead by two runs. After Kelton and Hovda each drew walks, Davis hit a two-run double for Blinn to lead 4-0.
Weatherford scored its only run in the ninth inning.
Next, the Buccaneers will compete on Saturday, Feb. 15, against Howard College at 4:30 p.m. and No. 16 Navarro College at 7 p.m. to conclude the Brazos JUCO Classic.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 41 NJCAA national championships since 1987.