When asked what was key to his sparkling performance Tuesday, Shane Connell didn’t hesitate.
“Everything,” Blinn College baseball’s sophomore pitcher said. “I tried to keep it simple, and I was able to fill up the strike zone because everything was landing.”
Connell’s “simple” approach led to a six-inning, complete-game shutout of Coastal Bend College as the Buccaneers cruised to a 10-0 run-rule victory in a Region XIV South matchup at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham, Texas.
The series opening win pushed Blinn to 22-12 overall and 14-4 in the South and increased their winning streak to five games. The Bucs also remained tied with San Jacinto College-North for first place in the South.
“I thought today was huge for Shane,” Blinn head coach Dusty Hart said. “Any time you throw a shutout on the mound, it’s a big day. It was pretty impressive, especially on a day like today where the wind is blowing in, and you have to force the other team to beat you. Strikes are huge on a day like today and I thought Shane went out and really challenged Coastal Bend.”
(Pictured: Blinn sophomore Shane Connell delivers a pitch against Coastal Bend College on April 2, 2024)
While Blinn’s offense certainly did its job against the Cougars with nine hits and nine walks, including three doubles and a home run, the day belonged to Connell. The second-year Buccaneer struck out 10 hitters and allowed just one hit and one walk while facing just one over the minimum to improve to 2-0 this season.
“This was big for me,” Connell said. “It was much needed and a long time coming. My plan was just to go out there and do my job and win every pitch. If you do that, good things will happen.”
Freshman catcher Ethan Gonzalez was on the receiving end of Connell’s gem while also adding a two-run double in the bottom of the third inning.
“Shane hit his spots when he needed to; he got ahead in the count early and often; and you can’t ask for much more from your pitcher than that,” Gonzalez said.
A five-run sixth inning allowed the Bucs to put the game away early, but one or more runs in each of the first four frames set up the big finish.
A sacrifice fly off the bat of freshman Caden Ferraro made it 1-0 in the first, and an RBI single from sophomore Tanner Reaves pushed the lead to 2-0 in the second.
(Pictured: Blinn freshman Ethan Gonzalez connects for a double against Coastal Bend College on April 2, 2024)
After Gonzalez’s double made it 4-0 in the third inning, sophomore Cade Climie made his mark with a towering solo home run to left field in the fourth.
Three consecutive bases loaded walks and a two-run double from sophomore Coy DeFury accounted for Blinn’s sixth-inning outburst.
Reaves finished 3 for 4 out of the leadoff spot. Ferraro also doubled for the Bucs. Climie’s homer was his team-leading 10th of the year.
“Today was as impressive as we’ve played just because of the way the wind was blowing and how we went out and attacked,” Hart added. “Usually, with the wind it’s really hard to hit and runs come at a premium, so I was really proud of the way we swung the bat. We produced a lot of line drives and put pressure on Coastal Bend to make plays, which is exactly what you have to do on days like today.”
The four-game series between the Bucs and Cougars resumes at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, in Beeville, Texas.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 45 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
