BLINN BASEBALL OPENS SERIES WITH A 9-4 WIN OVER ALVIN

Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information

Hayden Morris tossed five strong innings and the No. 7 Blinn College baseball team used a seven-run fourth inning to power past Alvin Community College for a 9-4 victory Tuesday in Alvin, Texas.

The Buccaneers took the opener of the four-game Region 14 South series to improve to 31-11 overall and 19-6 in South play.

“Any day you can win on the road in our region is a good day,” Blinn head coach Dusty Hart said. “Hayden set the tone for us on the mound, and our hitters worked some good at-bats in the fourth that kept the line moving and allowed for the crooked number.”

Morris (7-2) earned his third consecutive win and worked at least five innings for the third straight outing. He allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits while walking four and striking out seven.

“He pounded the strike zone,” Hart said. “He was throwing all of his pitches for strikes and went out and challenged hitters. It was really great to see.”

After the Dolphins pushed across an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning, the Buccaneers responded in a big way in the fourth.

Blinn opened the frame with back-to-back walks before freshman third baseman Ryley Leininger delivered an RBI double to tie the game. Freshman utility player Dane Perry followed with a go-ahead RBI fielder’s choice.

Following another walk, sophomore infielder Hunter Smolinski added an RBI groundout to extend the lead. After a hit-by-pitch kept the inning going, sophomore infielder Drew Britton came through with a two-run single to center field.

A defensive error prolonged the frame, and freshman designated hitter Austin Glasscock capitalized with a two-run single to make it 7-1.

Alvin chipped away with a run in the fifth and two more in the seventh, but Blinn added insurance in the eighth when Tuxhorn blasted his ninth home run of the season, a two-run shot to right field.

The Buccaneers finished with 10 hits, with Glasscock and Leininger collecting two apiece. Glasscock also drew three walks and drove in two runs, while Tuxhorn and Britton added two RBIs each.

Freshman reliever Corby Wagoner worked 1 2/3 innings and allowed two earned runs on two hits with one walk and one strikeout. Redshirt freshman Marc Barnhard finished the game with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two.

The series continues at 6 p.m. Thursday at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham, Texas.