It didn’t take long to figure out what the Blinn College baseball team would be doing Sunday.
A six-run first inning highlighted a big offensive night for the eighth-ranked Buccaneers, who staved off postseason elimination with a 23-5 win over San Jacinto College-North on Saturday at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham, Texas.
Blinn’s victory evened the best-of-three Region XIV Super Regional series at one game apiece and forced a winner-take-all matchup scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday in Brenham. Sunday’s victor will advance to the NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series in Grand Junction, Colo. The game will be broadcast live by TSBN Sports and can be watched for free at www.buccaneersports.com.
(Pictured: Blinn’s Coy DeFury celebrates as he rounds third base after hitting a grand slam against San Jacinto-North on May 18, 2024)
“We couldn’t get to Sunday without getting through today,” Bucs head coach Dusty Hart said. “and we told our guys that they couldn’t think about winning today or forcing a game three, instead they needed to go out and compete on every pitch and every play. We feel pretty good about our club when we do that.”
Good feelings turned into great ones in the top of the first inning after two hit batsmen and a pair of walks led to a 1-0 lead for Blinn (41-16). Sophomore Connor McGinnis opened the scoring when he drew a free pass with the bases loaded, and sophomore Brand Bishop followed with a bases loaded walk of his own to bring sophomore Coy DeFury to the plate. DeFury sent the second pitch he saw over the wall in center field for a grand slam.
“Coach asked us after our loss Saturday if we wanted to go home, and we all said ‘no,'” DeFury said. “He told us to come out today with our heads on fire, and we made the decision that we were going to produce.”
The Bucs’ big first frame was only the start of a productive night as they went on to score in each inning except the eighth behind 19 hits and 13 walks.
Blinn tacked on two in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth, three in the sixth, four in the seventh, and three more in the ninth.
(Pictured: Blinn’s Caden Ferraro is congratulated by teammate Ethan Gonzalez after scoring a run against San Jacinto-North on May 18, 2024)
Freshman Caden Ferraro had a massive showing, going 5 for 6 with two doubles, a sacrifice fly, and four runs batted in.
“We had a bad day at the plate as a team Saturday, but we came out fired up to play today,” Ferraro said. “Those six runs in the first inning kept that fire going and we just kept the ball rolling. Baseball is a funny game because you never know what’s going to happen day-to-day, but luckily things went our way today and now we just have to keep it going Sunday.”
DeFury, McGinnis, sophomores Tanner Reaves and Cade Climie, and freshman Tavion Vaughns had two hits apiece.
The Bucs’ offensive output backed a sturdy start from freshman pitcher Lucas Davenport. The tall right-hander worked seven innings of four-run ball (three earned), tossing 102 pitches on a night he was granted an extended leash due to the sizable lead. He improved to 7-2 on the year after giving up six hits and one walk while striking out six Ravens.
(Pictured: Blinn freshman Lucas Davenport delivers a pitch against San Jacinto-North on May 18, 2024)
“I just want to start off by giving praise to our hitters,” Davenport said. “Putting up 23 runs definitely makes my job easier. I’m out there knowing that if I don’t execute a pitch perfectly and San Jacinto gets a base hit, it’s all right. Praise to the hitters for taking a huge weight off my shoulders tonight and allowing me to go out there and throw strikes.”
Sophomore relief pitcher Tyler Bogusz pitched two innings of one-run ball. He allowed one hit, one walk, and fanned three.
“We got the job done today,” Hart added. “Now, let’s see what happens tomorrow.”
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 47 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
