BAY CITY, Texas – Blinn College baseball had the pitching performance to win the opener against Wharton County Junior College and the offense came just in time to give the Buccaneers a 2-1 victory in eight innings April 19 in Bay City.
Wharton was able to come back from a 4-1 deficit in the second game to earn a 5-4 victory to split the pair of games. With the split, the Blinn conference record moves to 11-19 and 20-21 overall. Wharton and Blinn are fighting for the fourth spot in the Region XIV South Zone standings as Wharton has a slight edge at 13-19 in conference.
Dakota Mills had a solid performance on the mound in the first game for Blinn going nearly seven innings and only allowing one run while striking out seven in the no-decision. Jager Toffan hit the game-winning double in the eighth and added a single in the victory. Hunter Lehman also added a double in the win.
Blinn was able to get an early edge in the second inning when Lehman hit a double and then was able to cross the plate for a 1-0 lead. Wharton was able to tie the game in the seventh inning to force extra innings.
After having the momentum stolen away in the seventh inning, Blinn was able to recover in the eighth. Christian Thames started the extra frame with a walk and then scored on an RBI double by Toffan to center that turned out to be the game-winning hit.
Blinn was on its way to a sweep of the pair after jumping out to a 4-1 lead in the sixth inning but Wharton was able to recover and score four runs in the final two innings to grab a 5-4 victory over the Buccaneers in the second game.
Stephen Stuart did his best from the plate in the second game with a home run and a single while bringing in two runs. Ben Upton picked up three hits and Cullen Jozwiak hit two singles and knocked in a run in the loss.
Stuart was able to get Blinn going in the opening inning when he ripped a two-run home run to right for a 2-0 lead. Blinn added to its lead in the fourth when Upton singled to begin the inning and then Jozwiak hit an RBI single to right to score Upton for a 3-0 lead. Wharton was able to get a run in the bottom of the fourth to get within 3-1.
Jose Reyes got Blinn going with a walk to start the sixth inning and then was able to score on a sacrifice fly hit by Thames for a 4-1 lead. Unfortunately, that would be the final time Blinn would touch the plate as Wharton roared back with four unanswered runs to pull out the 5-4 victory.
Blinn will travel to face Angelina College on April 21 for a non-conference game that begins 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.
