The Buccaneers (14-5) smacked 15 hits, including three doubles, a triple, and a home run, while also drawing 11 walks to produce their sixth double-digit scoring effort of the season.
“We had a good day,” Blinn head coach Dusty Hart said. “We were fortunate to get a big lead early and hold on.”
Blinn erased a 2-0 deficit in the second inning with a seven-spot in its half of the frame.
(Pictured: Blinn College’s Coy DeFury slides into third base safely for a triple during a game against Navarro College on Feb. 27)
A bases loaded walk to freshman Brandon Bishop walked in a run before freshman Tanner Reaves scored freshman Christian Dunn with a sacrifice fly to tie the game. Sophomore Ryan Scott then pushed Blinn ahead with an RBI single and freshman Coy DeFury scored Bishop and Scott with a triple to right field to make it 5-2.
Sophomore Tate Bethel then sent a line drive over the wall in right to make it 7-2.
“We played hard,” DeFury said. “It goes back to all of the work we put in during the fall; we keep things competitive; we never give up; and that’s how we’re going to continue to play.”
DeFury’s words rang true during the middle innings of the ballgame as Blinn jumped ahead 11-3 before the Bulldogs put together a rally in the fifth. Navarro scored three runs to pull within 11-6. Blinn continued to battle, however, and used a key pitching performance to fend off the visitors.
“Navarro did a great job of taking back the momentum a bit in the fifth when it looked like we were going to run away with the game,” Hart said. “Tip your hat to them, but I thought Keller Thompson came in and did a stellar job of shutting them down.”
(Pictured: Blinn College’s Keller Thompson delivers a pitch during a game against Navarro College on Feb. 27)
Thompson took the mound with two outs in the fifth and proceeded to toss 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. He walked none while allowing just one hit with five strikeouts.
“I just came in and tried to fill up the zone with strikes,” Thompson said. I trusted my defense behind me and executed my pitches. A big part of my outing was not trying to do too much on the mound.”
Bethel gave his team some more breathing room when we cracked a two-run double to right in the eighth.
DeFury fell a home run shy of the cycle as he singled, doubled, and tripled as part of a three-hit day. He drove in two runs. Freshman Matt Whitting had two hits and scored three runs, and Bethel, Scott, Bishop, and freshman Marshall Lipsey also had two hits apiece. Bishop, Scott, and Dunn each scored two runs.
(Pictured: Blinn College’s Jake Kolkhorst delivers a pitch during a game against Navarro College on Feb. 27)
Freshman pitcher Jake Kolkhorst earned the win on the mound following a three-inning stint. He allowed three runs (all earned) on three hits with five strikeouts and four walks. Freshman Alex Cruz was charged with three earned runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Freshman Tristan Duke pitched a hitless ninth to close out the ballgame.
Blinn will resume Region XIV South Zone play with a home-and-away series against No. 7 San Jacinto College-North later this week. The series opens at Leroy Dreyer field with a 6 p.m. game Thursday, March 2, and concludes with a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, in Houston, Texas.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
