The Buccaneers got a three-run home run from Jett Garcia in the top of the seventh inning to take the lead for good, and Gage Boehm shut the door with 1 1/3 innings for his third save of the year.
Blinn improved to 4-8 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
The Buccaneers totaled six hits but wore down the Dolphin pitching staff by drawing 10 walks. Four of those free passes turned into runs for Blinn.
“We had some really competitive at-bats early to draw some walks,” Blinn head coach Harvey McIntyre said. “Right now, it’s really important for us to get on the board first and we did, and then it became sort of a tennis match … back-and-forth, back-and-forth.”
Garcia’s hit proved to be the difference for Blinn, and the second-year freshman finished with two runs scored and two walks for the Bucs. Leadoff hitter Cole Smajstrla continued his strong start to the season (14 for 36 for a .389 average) with three hits in four at bats, including a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Liam Koleci tripled and scored two runs for Blinn.
Reliever Eric Oaks earned the victory for Blinn, working 2 2/3 innings of one-run ball. He gave up two hits, two walks, and struck out five. Boehm came on in the eighth frame and allowed one run on one hit with one walk and a pair of punchouts. Blaise Wilcenski started for Blinn and lasted 3 1/3 innings, and Isaac Ponce also tossed two innings in relief.
“I thought all of those guys threw well,” McIntyre said. “Blaise wasn’t really sharp, but he gutted it out and got us some big outs … then Ponce, Oaks, and Boehm came in and worked some big innings for us and gave us the chance to win. We’re still ironing things out, but we got the job done.”
Blinn is scheduled to host Alvin at 6 p.m. Thursday at Fireman’s Park in Brenham, but McIntyre said that inclement weather may push the first pitch to an afternoon start time. Visit BuccaneerSports.com for schedule updates.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
