BLINN BASEBALL POUNDS DODGE CITY 20-7 IN THEIR HOME OPENER

Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information

The second-ranked Blinn College baseball team had as impressive a home opener as a coach could ask for.

Just ask Dusty Hart.

“You couldn’t dream up a better way to kick things off on your own diamond,” the Buccaneers’ fourth-year skipper said. “We had a big win to cap our season-opening doubleheader, and the biggest thing we wanted today was to avoid a letdown. I was extremely impressed with how we attacked the day.”

For the second consecutive game, Blinn piled up offense and added enough effective pitching to earn a 20-7, seven-inning victory over Dodge City Community College on Tuesday at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham, Texas.

The Buccaneers are now 2-1 overall.

Blinn earned a doubleheader split on the road against No. 7 Weatherford College on Sunday, winning game two 18-12.

That offensive momentum carried over into Tuesday's tilt as the Bucs ran away from Dodge City early.

After the Conquistadors took a 3-1 lead in the top of the second inning, Blinn answered immediately in its half of the frame.

Freshman catcher A.J. DePaolo smacked a two-run homer to tie the game before freshman third baseman Ryley Leininger added a two-run shot of his own to put Blinn ahead to stay.

In the bottom of the third, the Bucs racked up seven hits and five walks en route to a nine-run outburst that virtually put the game away.

Blinn led 14-3 after the fifth inning, but with both teams having less than four games under their belts this season, Hart and Dodge City head coach JM Kelly agreed prior to the matchup to forego the early run rule and play at least seven innings.

The Bucs tacked on four more runs in the sixth, highlighted by two-run homers from sophomore first baseman Drew Britton and sophomore second baseman Hunter Smolinski.

Blinn tallied 18 hits and drew nine walks.

Britton, DePaolo, Smolinski, and freshman designated hitter Zachary Tuxhorn had three hits apiece. Britton and DePaolo finished with five runs batted in apiece, Smolinski and sophomore right fielder Brady Sullivan both chipped in three, and Leininger collected a pair. DePaolo and Smolinksi also doubled.

“We were unselfish at the plate; we took our walks and we passed the bat,” Hart explained. “Even as the game started going our way, we never stopped battling and never took an at-bats off.”

Blinn’s offense was backed by the efforts of three freshman pitchers.

Trevor Moore got the start and went four innings for his first collegiate victory. He allowed three earned runs on two hits, walked five, and struck out three. Marc Barnhard and Travis Minard – both of whom redshirted for the Bucs in 2025 – tossed the final three frames.

Barnhard worked two scoreless innings in which he allowed one hit and two walks while fanning two Conquistadors. 

Dodge City got four runs off Minard in the seventh.

“We were really happy about getting those freshmen some time on the mound, especially this early,” Hart said. “The quicker you can get the nerves out of the way, take your lumps, and improve from it, the better you’ll be down the stretch. I expect each of those guys we threw today to be better their next times out.”

Blinn’s season continues with a three-game home series against Amarillo College beginning with a doubleheader at noon Friday. The two teams will finish up with a noon ballgame Saturday.