HOUSTON, Texas – By scoring seven runs in the first inning, Blinn College baseball jumped all over Navarro College and cruised to a 13-1 victory Feb. 8 in the final game of the San Jacinto Tournament in Houston.
The Buccaneers finished the tournament with a 3-1 record and during the final game the offense and pitching was both clicking in the win.
The offense was working well for Blinn as well as Cullen Jozwiak went 3 for 4 with a triple and an RBI. Conner Smith and Ben Upton each hit a home run in the impressive showing at the plate that helped improve the Blinn record to 6-1.
Blinn came out with run support right away with seven runs in the first inning. Hunter Lehman knocked in the first run with a single through the infield and Upton followed with a two-run shot to center for a 3-0 lead.
Smith followed the Upton home run with one of his own to score two runs and boost the lead to 5-0. Christian Thames later scored on a fielder’s choice hit by Patrick King and then Jozwiak capped the scoring with a single to center to score Reed Robinson for an impressive 7-0 lead after one.
The scoring continued for Blinn in the second as Upton walked to begin the inning and later came around to score for the eighth run. Thames was able to add an RBI single through the infield for a 9-0 lead and then Walker Winders drove in Smith with a ground out for a 10-0 lead after two innings.
Robbie Rojas was able to tack onto the lead in the third with a triple to right that was enough to score Jozwiak for a 11-0 lead after three.
Lehman added an RBI single in the fourth inning for the 12th run and then Winders, who singled earlier in the inning, was able to score on a passed ball for a 13-0 lead. Blinn was able to score in four consecutive innings. Navarro added a run in the seventh that served to make the game only appear closer.
Blinn will be back home at Leroy Dreyer Field on Feb. 13 against Frank Phillips College for a game at 4 p.m.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 30 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.