The Buccaneers scored twice on a Sean Monsour two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 3-2 victory and remained in fourth place in the South zone. Blinn (13-27, 9-17 South zone) currently holds the fourth and final playoff berth in the South standings.
The Buccaneers’ victory Wednesday was made possible by a trio of clutch pitching performances, as well as several competitive plate appearances during their final at bat.
Will Gross started for Blinn and worked five innings of two-run ball. He allowed six hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. Isaac Ponce came on in relief and worked 3 2/3 scoreless frames. He allowed a pair of hits, struck out two, and walked one. Dave Wilson, making his first appearance on the mound since March 7, got the final out of the ninth inning with runners on first and second base.
“The difference was our pitchers found a way to put some goose eggs on the board and give our team a chance in that ninth inning,” Blinn head coach Harvey McIntyre said. “Gross had a huge day for us, and then Ponce comes in and tosses three-plus scoreless innings before Wilson gets a huge out to end the ninth. That’s the reason we had a chance.”
Wilson was hit with a pitch to open the bottom of the ninth, and the Bucs were in business. Luke Nail followed with a sacrifice bunt to push Wilson to second and Bo Rodgers smacked a two-strike single to put Buccaneers at the corners. One out later, Garrison Weiss walked to load the bases, and Monsour slapped a single into right-center field to drive in Wilson and Rodgers for the win.
“We had some quality at bats in front of Monsour to give him a shot, and he comes through with his biggest base knock of the year,” McIntyre added. “Obviously, this was a big win, and we’ll see where it takes us.”
Blinn travels to Wharton County to complete the three-game series with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 15, in Wharton, Texas.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
