A 15-run offensive outburst can do that.
The Buccaneers pounded out 16 hits and countered seven issued walks with a combined five-inning no-hitter in a 15-2 victory over Wharton County Junior College in Region XIV South Zone action Thursday in Brenham, Texas.
“We got to the fifth inning and I didn’t even realize we had the no-no going,” said Hart. “When you score all of those runs and have all of those baserunners on, it can sort of fly under the radar. We gave up a few too many walks, but throwing a no-hitter is always a big deal. That’s only the third one I’ve been a part of in my 20-plus years coaching.”
Freshman pitchers Shane Connell and Tyler Bogusz combined for the no-hitter. Connell worked three-plus innings and allowed two earned runs on five walks with three strikeouts. Bogusz came on in the fourth with a runner on first. He walked two while finishing the ball game.
“In those situations, you just have to bear down and throw strikes and let the batters hit it and trust your defense to get outs,” said Bogusz. “I give props to our hitters; they put runs on the board and helped us as pitchers. It makes the game a lot easier when the pitchers pitch, hitters hit, and the defenders defend. We can win just keep winning ballgames and move on the to the next one.”
The Pioneers tallied two runs in the top of the fourth inning on a balk and an RBI ground out.
Blinn (18-6, 7-2 South Zone) built an early lead with four runs in the first frame.
A two-run single off the bat of freshman Tanner Reaves made it 2-0, and an RBI single from freshman Coy DeFury followed by a run-scoring triple from freshman Kash Durkin made it 4-0.
(Pictured: Blinn College freshman Kash Durkin slides into third base with a triple during a game against Wharton County on March 9)
In the third, freshman Tony Vernars smacked a single to drive in a run, freshman Marshall Lipsey doubled home a run, and freshman Brandon Bishop plated a run with a single for an 8-0 cushion.
Blinn put the run rule in play with a seven-run fourth. Durkin plated a run with a single; Lipsey was hit by a pitch to score a run; Bishop laced a two-run single to right; and Reaves tripled to score two runs and scored on the throw from the outfield that sailed into the home dugout.
The offensive outburst was a welcome sight for the Bucs after the team tallied just four singles against Wharton County in a 5-3 series-opening loss on Tuesday.
“We challenged them a little bit after the first game; we wanted them to lock in and not allow the game to dictate our level of play,” Hart said. “We needed to relax, go out and play, and have fun. I couldn’t ask for a better response from our guys; they came out and stood behind each other and competed.”
Bishoped finished 4 for 4 with four RBIs and two runs. Durkin went 3 for 3 with two driven in, and Reaves had two hits and plated four. Reaves now has 39 RBIs this season, the second highest total in NJCAA Division I baseball as of Thursday night.
Sophomore Ian Collier had two hits, including a double.
Blinn and Wharton County will finish their series with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, in Wharton, Texas.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
