HOUSTON, Texas – Looking for its first victory in four tries, Blinn College baseball turned to Nick Masarik and he delivered on the mound with 10 strikeouts in a 5-3 victory over No. 7 McLennan Community College Sunday evening in Houston.
Masarik coupled a strong performance on the mound with just enough run support to help the Buccaneers to the first victory of the season as they improve to 1-3 overall.
“I was impressed with our pitching staff all tournament,” said Blinn coach Harvey McIntyre. “Nick Masarik had one of the most impressive performances that I have ever seen on the mound.”
Masarik earned his 10 strikeouts in seven innings of work while allowing only one run on three hits to lead Blinn. Austen Swift delivered at the plate with a solo home run and a single. Hillen Warren had a pair of singles and scored a run in the win. Elijah MacNamee and Trent Murphy each had an RBI against McLennan.
Blinn got on the scoreboard first in the third when Warren started it all with a one-out single and then later came around to score on a single to center by MacNamee for a 1-0 lead. McLennan tied it back up at 1-1 in the top of the fourth.
Swift helped the Buccaneers get the lead right back in the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff single and then later was able to score to give Blinn a 2-1 lead. Swift also scored the next Blinn run in the sixth with a solo home run to right for a 3-1 lead and the Buccaneers weren’t done after that.
Murphy later knocked in a run with a single to center and then Jay Anderson later scored for a 5-1 lead after six. Blinn nearly needed all of those extra runs as McLennan scored twice in the ninth but the Buccaneers held on for two-run victory.
Blinn will have its home opener on Friday, Feb. 12 with a double-header against Frank Phillips College starting at 4 p.m.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 32 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.
