The fourth-ranked Blinn College baseball team had a quiet start and a loud finish to its season-opening doubleheader against Temple College on Monday at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham, Texas.
The Buccaneers struggled in game one of the twin bill and fell 5-3 before erupting for an 18-4 run-rule victory over the Leopards in the finale.
“There were some jitters for us today. I don’t care who you are, opening day brings jitters,” second-year Blinn head coach Dusty Hart said. “There were guys making their collegiate debuts out there, and at times you could tell guys weren’t relaxed and were pressing a little bit. But we finally settled in during that second game and started playing like we know we can.”
Monday’s opener proved to be a game of missed opportunities for the Buccaneers. Blinn’s defense committed three errors which led to four unearned runs for Temple, and the Bucs’ offense managed just three runs despite drawing 10 walks and having the bases loaded twice with just one out.
Sophomore infielder Cade Climie and freshman outfielder Tavion Vaughns each singled and drove in a run for Blinn, while sophomore infielder Connor McGinnis drew three walks and plated a run on an RBI fielder’s choice.
Temple scored all five of its runs in the top of the third inning. Blinn scored single tallies in the first, fourth, and sixth frames.
The Leopards finished with 10 hits.
On the mound, Blinn freshman right-hander Lucas Davenport was the tough-luck loser after allowing five runs (one earned) on six hits. He struck out five Leopards and didn’t allow a walk. Sophomore Jake Kolkhorst and freshmen Paxton Terveen and Caden Ferraro combined to throw four shutout innings in relief.
(Pictured: Blinn freshman Caden Ferraro delivers a pitch during a game against Temple College on Jan. 29, 2024)
Blinn rebounded in game two behind strong starting pitching from sophomore righty Kaden Dydalewicz and 18 hits from the Bucs’ offense.
Dydalewicz, who emerged as one of Blinn’s best arms last season, fanned five hitters across four innings of four-hit ball. He walked two while allowing one run (earned).
“We knew Kaden had experience and that the moment wouldn’t be too big for him,” Hart said. “He did a great job. For him to go out there and throw four shutout innings was a huge performance that we needed.”
Sophomore relievers Brendan Sweeney, Ben Bosse, and Bryson Dudley worked the final three frames to secure the seven-inning win.
Blinn’s offense made up for its tough first ace with an impressive encore.
(Pictured: Blinn sophomore Tanner Reaves makes contact with a pitch during a game against Temple College on Jan. 29, 2024)
Sophomore Kash Durkin and Ferraro smacked two home runs apiece, 2023 first-team All-American Tanner Reaves had a double as part of a four-hit, three-RBI performance, and six players finished with at least two hits.
“Temple did a good job of containing our offense in the first game,” Hart said. “Our timing was a little off early on in that first game, but as the game went on, our hitters started having better at bats. That carried over to the second game.”
After Sophomore outfielder Marshall Lipsey got Blinn on the board with an RBI single in the second inning, sophomore outfielder Brandon Bishop followed with a sacrifice fly that plated Climie.
The Bucs then exploded in the third inning with a 12-run output.
Ferraro and Durkin provided the fireworks for Blinn as the two hitters hit back-to-back home runs. Ferraro drove a 1-2 pitch to right field for a grand slam, and Durkin followed with a solo shot to left. Durkin achieved a rare feat when he hit his second homer of the game in the same inning, a three-run shot to center that made it 14-0.
“That was the turning point of the day when they hit back-to-back home runs,” Hart said of Ferraro and Durkin. “When they went back-to-back, the dugout took a collective deep breath and I think we loosened up from there.”
(Pictured: Blinn sophomore Coy DeFury puts a ball into play during a game against Temple College on Jan. 29, 2024)
Temple broke up the shutout with a solo tally in the fourth inning and added two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth. Blinn scored four runs in the home half of the fifth.
Ferraro led off the fifth with a solo home run.
Durkin and Ferraro each finished with three hits and four RBIs. Lipsey, Climie, and sophomore infielder Coy DeFury had two hits apiece. DeFury drove in a pair, while Climie and Lipsey each had one RBI.
“We got some matchups in the second game that were really favorable for our hitters,” said Hart. “We also got big hits in the second game that we didn’t get in the first game. I was really proud of how the guys responded today.”
Next up for the Bucs is a four-game road series at Baton Rouge Community College beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, in Baton, Rouge. La. The two teams will play a twin bill on Saturday before finishing the set with a Sunday afternoon tilt.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 45 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
