BLINN USES BIG 1ST INNING TO CRUSH PANOLA 13-2

The Blinn Buccaneer Baseball Team used a 13-run first inning to make quick work of the Panola Ponies yesterday (Thursday) on opening day of the Region XIV South Zone Tournament at Leroy Dreyer Field.

Panola took the early 1-0 lead by scoring a run off Blinn starting pitcher Brendan Sweeney in the top of the first.

However, in the bottom of the inning, it was all Bucs. With a couple of runners aboard, Caden Ferraro slugged a two-run double to give Blinn a 2-1 lead.

Marshall Lipsey and Brandon Bishop followed with back-to-back singles to increase the lead to 4-1. Lipsey then scored on a wild pitch, while a Panola error allowed another run to come home, and increase the Buccaneer lead to 6-1.

Tanner Reaves hit a two-run single, and Ferraro added an RBI single as well. Reaves would score on a passed ball, and the Blinn lead climbed to 10-1.

In his second at-bat of the inning, Lipsey hit a two-run double to make it 12-1.

Coy De Fury joined in the hit parade with an RBI single to increase the lead to 13-1.

Panola got one more run in the top of the fifth, but Sweeney was able to get the last out, and preserve the win for the Bucs.

In other tournament game last (Thursday) night, Galveston beat Tyler 9-8.

So for today (Friday), Panola will face Tyler at 2pm in an elimination game. Meanwhile, Blinn takes on Galveston at 6pm. The winner goes to the tournament championship tomorrow (Saturday).