The Blinn College baseball team powered past Wharton County Junior College 10-6 to begin a four-game Region XIV series Tuesday in Wharton, Texas.
The Buccaneers (16-11, 8-3 Region XIV) scored four runs in the final three innings of play to pull away from the Pioneers.
“There’s still room for improvement, but we’re competing for the entire game, which is the biggest takeaway from tonight,” Blinn head coach Dusty Hard said. “We’re showing that we understand that we have to throw every pitch, make every play, and treat every at bat like it’s a big one. I’m really proud of our effort tonight because we showed a lot of heart.”
The Bucs built a 6-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, but Wharton rallied for five runs to tie the game.
(Pictured: Blinn sophomore Connor McGinnis)
Blinn answered in the seventh frame when sophomore Tony Vernars grounded into a fielder’s choice to bring sophomore Connor McGinnis to the plate for the game-winning run.
McGinnis gave the Bucs some much-needed insurance when he blasted his ninth home run of the season in the eighth. The two-run shot made it 9-6, and in the top of the ninth, McGinnis added an RBI single to close out the scoring.
Blinn freshman Caden Ferraro hit a two-run homer in the fifth to make it 6-1.
Of the Bucs’ 13 hits, four of them came off the bat of McGinnis. Ferraro, sophomore Tanner Reaves, and freshman Ethan Gonzalez finished with two hits apiece. Gonzalez and Ferraro also doubled. Ferraro and Vernars finished with four and three RBIs, respectively.
“This type of offensive performance is what we envisioned at the beginning of the season,” Hart added. “Having an offense that didn’t have to rely on one guy was what we wanted. We have nine guys in the lineup who can change the game with one swing of the bat.”
On the mound, sophomore pitcher Shane McConnell settled for a no decision after working 4 ? innings of six-run ball. He gave up five earned runs on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
(Pictured: Blinn sophomore Jake Kolkhorst)
Sophomore Cody Pfeffer got the final two outs of the fifth inning before sophomore Jake Kolkhorst came on in the sixth to finish the game. Kolkhorst earned the victory after he tossed four perfect innings while striking out two Pioneers.
“We’ve really solidified some guys on the mound and found out who we need on the mound in big moments,” Hart said. “We feel really good about what we’ve got coming out of the bullpen late in ballgames right now with the game on the line.”
Blinn’s series with Wharton continues at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham, Texas.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 45 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
