BUCS SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER WITH GRAYSON COLLEGE

Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information

The top-ranked Blinn College baseball team settled for a split of a doubleheader with Grayson College on Sunday in Denison, Texas.

The Buccaneers earned a 9-2 victory in game one before the Vikings rallied in game two to secure a 5-3 win.

"It was a great start to the day, but it's disappointing that we didn't finish what we started," Blinn head coach Dusty Hart said. "We had our chances to put our foot on the gas in game two and we didn't take advantage."

The Bucs (11-4) got off to a great start in the twin bill behind a stellar start from freshman pitcher Brok Eddy and sophomore utility player Caden Ferraro.

Eddy improved to 4-1 on the year behind five innings of two-run ball. He gave up five hits and two walks and struck out three. 

Cadyn Shaw pitched two frames of hitless relief and walked and struck out one.

"Brok threw like he always does; he gives you a chance by throwing strikes, changing speeds, and making big pitches," Hart added. "Then Shaw came in and did what he always does, which is give us quality innings."

At the plate, Ferraro started a big day with three hits and five RBIs, including a towering three-run home run to right field in the top of the fourth. 

Blinn opened the scoring with sacrifice fly outs from freshman Trey Craig and sophomore Bennett Fryman in the first. 

The Bucs tacked on four insurance runs in the top of the seventh when sophomore Ethan Gonzalez and freshman Brady Sullivan drew bases loaded walks, and Ferraro smacked a two-run double to center field.

Fryman, sophomore Lane Allen, and freshman Benji Berrera had two hits apiece.

In game two, Blinn built a 3-0 lead which it carried into the sixth inning before the Vikings tied things up in their half of the frame. A two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh broke the tie and gave Grayson the lead for good.

The Bucs tallied seven hits, led by a pair for Allen. Ferraro smacked his second homer of the day to start the scoring in the third frame and now has six this spring. Sullivan drove in a run on a fielder's choice in the fourth and Allen singled in a run in the fifth. 

Blinn had several chances to break the game open early but failed to come through with timely hits and left 13 runners on base. Hart said cashing in on scoring opportunities will be a point of emphasis moving forward.

"We let Grayson hang around and gave them some confidence after we started walking guys late," Hart explained. "Then, they got the big hit and we didn't. We can't sit on leads and hope for the best; we have to keep attacking. Three of our losses have come in the second game of a doubleheader; we have to learn to finish." 

The Vikings' rally spoiled a strong start for Blinn freshman pitcher Hayden Morris, who worked 4 1/3 innings of one-hit ball. He walked four and punched out six. 

Grayson did all of its damage against the Bucs' bullpen.

Freshman pitcher Hudson Melaerts took the loss in relief.  

Blinn's season continues with the start of Region XIV play. The Bucs open a three-game set against Coastal Bend College beginning 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, in Beeville, Texas. The series will conclude with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham, Texas.