BUCS TAKE GAME TWO OF SERIES WITH COASTAL BEND 10-3
Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information
The second-ranked Blinn College baseball team is conducting a masterclass on perseverance.
In the face of injuries within their lineup and pitching staff, the Buccaneers continued their recent surge with a 10-3 Region XIV South home win over Coastal Bend College on Thursday at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham, Texas.
Blinn increased its winning streak to five and improved to 29-7 overall while pushing its first-place record in the South to 17-2. More impressively, despite being without key parts of their offense and pitching staff, the Bucs are 15-1 since March 8.
"It's been interesting to say the least, but we're finding ways to get the job done," Blinn head coach Dusty Hart said.
The Bucs found a few more ways against Coastal Bend on Thursday, as they rode a timely relief performance from sophomore pitcher Paxton Terveen and a collective offensive effort to the finish line.
Terveen, who entered the night with just 13 1/3 innings under his belt this season, registered his longest appearance of the year. He worked 5 2/3 scoreless frames of three-hit ball in which he struck out three Cougars and walked one. He earned the decision to improve to 2-1.
"That outing from Paxton was huge," Hart said. "We needed that in a big way, and he kind of saved the day."
Sophomore Bennett Fryman started for Blinn and allowed three earned runs on three hits with four walks and three punchouts. He was lifted for Terveen with one out in the fourth frame.
Terveen got the final two outs of the fourth and sent Blinn into its half of the inning with the game tied 3-3.
The Bucs took control from there, starting with sophomore Ryder McDaniel's sacrifice fly for a 4-3 edge.
In the fifth, Blinn added a run on a wild pitch, an RBI single from double from freshman Trey Craig, and a run-scoring double by freshman Drew Britton for a four-run cushion.
Craig struck again in the seventh when he sent a two-run home run – his third of the season – to left field. McDaniel added an RBI single later in the inning to close out the scoring.
Blinn's 14-hit effort was carried by two-hit performances for Craig, Britton, sophomores Matt Quintanar and Ryan Williams (two doubles), and freshman Reece Lunsford.
"I thought we played really well," Hart added. "We executed when we needed to, and we were able to manufacture some runs while it was still a close game. Then our guys were able to pull away late because we kept our foot on the gas pedal. I'm just super proud of our effort and execution."
The Bucs and Cougars conclude their four-game series with a doubleheader in Beeville at 2 p.m. on Saturday