BUC BASEBALL OPENS SEASON WITH TWINBILL SPLIT

Bucs score 13 runs in three innings highlighted by Koby Collins’ three-run homer

TEMPLE, Texas — Blinn College baseball was able to finish off the doubleheader against Temple College with a 13-3 victory after scoring 13 runs in the final three innings on Saturday afternoon in Temple.

“We had two great starts, did a good job on offense and it is great to walk off the field a winner in game two,” said Harvey McIntyre, Blinn head coach. “I am happy with the way we played and it was really good to see them find a way to win game two.”

The Buccaneers lost to Temple 4-3 earlier in the day to open the season with a 1-1 record.

Temple 4 – Blinn 3

The Buccaneers held a 3-0 lead in the fourth quarter before Temple came back to score four runs in three innings to defeat Blinn, 4-3.

Brandon Ashy, Zach Cherry and Jacob Miller led the Blinn offense after each recording one hit, while Ashy led the Buccaneers with 2 RBIs and Cherry followed with one RBI. On defense, Kyle Gray struck out seven and surrendered two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, while throwing three scoreless innings. Tyler Henson closed out the remaining 1 1/3 innings and only allowed one hit.

The Buccaneers opened the first game against Temple with a two-run lead in the third inning. After Miller, Richard Bailey and Drew Ardoin loaded the bases, Ashy hit a two-run double to put the Buccaneers on the board first.

Blinn tacked on another run in the fourth quarter following a solo home run by Cherry for the Buccaneers to take a 3-0 lead.

Temple scored its first run of the game in the fourth inning and managed to even the score 3-3 with two runs in the fifth inning. A passed ball allowed Temple to take 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning and hold it for the remainder of the game.

Blinn 13 – Temple 3

After Temple pitched four scoreless innings and took the lead, the Buccaneers scored 13 runs in the final three innings to earn a 13-3 victory and finish the day strong.

Gray Rodgers went 2-for-2, while driving in two runs and scoring three runs to lead the Buccaneers. Cherry and Koby Collins each drove in three runs, while Hunter Trinidad, Jackson Leath and Miller each scored two runs. Zach Smith posted the win for the Buccaneers on the mound after pitching one inning and striking out two. Kasey Kalich started the game and only gave up one earned run in four innings.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning when Temple took a 1-0 lead.

However, Blinn answered back in the top of the fifth inning with three runs to take the lead for the first time in the game. With two outs in the fifth inning Dylan Bohnert sparked the Blinn offense with a double. Rodgers followed with a one-run single to even the score 1-1. After Rodgers moved into scoring position following a wild pitch, Ardoin drove him home for Blinn to take a 2-1 lead. Ardoin came home on an error for Blinn’s final run in in the inning.

Temple evened the score 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning, but Blinn quickly took back an 8-3 lead in the sixth inning. Collins hit a three-run homer to give the momentum back to the Buccaneers as they took a 6-3 lead, while Cherry scored the final runs of the inning for Blinn with a two-run double.

The Buccaneers tacked on five more runs in the seventh inning as Miller kicked things off with a one-run double. Rodgers used a one-run single to drive in Miller for his second RBI of the game as Blinn took a 10-3 lead. Trinidad added two more runs to the board with a double and Marshall Skinner added Blinn’s final run with a single to score Trinidad.

Blinn will host Angelina College for a doubleheader in the Buccaneers’ home opener at Leroy Dreyer Field on Saturday, Feb. 3 starting at 2 p.m.

For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com

(COURTESY: Tara Dreyer, Blinn Information)