BUCS WALK-OFF CONFERENCE VICTORY OVER ALVIN

Story by Joe Alberico Blinn College, Sports Information

The Blinn College baseball team is finding fortune in falling behind.

The fourth-ranked Buccaneers rallied past Region XIV South foe Alvin Community College 12-11 in the opener of a three-game series on Wednesday at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham, Texas.

The comeback victory was Blinn's sixth consecutive South win in which the Bucs trailed at least once during the game. Blinn (25-7, 13-2 South) has developed a recent knack for dramatics, with eight come-from-behind wins in 12 games since March 8, an 11-1 stretch for the first-place Bucs.

"It's certainly stressful from a coaching standpoint, but you also love to see your team find ways to win regardless of the situation," Blinn head coach Dusty Hart said. "They're certainly making it hard on their old coach, but this is also what makes the game of baseball fun."

Blinn has had little trouble finding victory since Hart's arrival in 2023, with the program boasting a 118-39 record and the 2024 NJCAA Division I national championship during his run. 

As of late, however, the Bucs are taking a more unconventional approach to triumph.

"You'd much rather be playing ahead in these games, but you learn a lot about your players and their ability to handle adversity when you're behind," Hart added. "You come in to play a good Alvin team and you almost expect to be in a game like the one we were in. We knew it would be a dogfight and that's exactly what it was. Neither team wanted to lose; neither team wanted to give in. It was going to take somebody making something happen and fortunately for us, it was our night."

Throughout the game, the Dolphins led 3-0, 8-5, and 11-7, but Blinn never flinched.

A lightning delay paused play momentarily in the fifth inning, and Alvin came out of the break with a five-run outburst to take an 8-5 advantage.

Freshman Brady Sullivan's RBI single in the sixth and a sacrifice fly from sophomore Ryder McDaniel pulled the Bucs within 8-7, but the Dolphins found some more runs in the seventh.

A three-run home run for the visitors gave them an 11-7 lead.

The Bucs used some power hitting of their own to fight back once again, starting with a leadoff blast from their sophomore home run leader Caden Ferraro. His solo shot in the seventh was his 11th of the season. 

Sophomore Matt Quintanar kept the inning going with a walk, and freshman Drew Britton sent a one-out offering into the trees in right field to cut Alvin's lead to one.

Freshman pitcher Bryce McCain came on in the top of the eighth and put a zero on the board for the Blinn, and its offense got back to work in the home half of the frame.

McDaniel singled to lead off the inning, freshman Reece Lunsford executed a perfect sacrifice bunt down the first base line, and after McDaniel advanced to third base on a wild pitch, sophomore Lane Allen drove him in on a fielder's choice.

McCain then got two outs in the ninth before sophomore Hunter Bond entered with a runner on base. He induced a line out to left field to set up Blinn's game-winning rally in the bottom half and was credited with the win.

A single from sophomore Bennet Fryman started the inning, Britton reached on an error, and sophomore Ryan Williams reached on a sacrifice bunt when Fryman slid safely into third base on an attempted force out. One out later, Ryder McDaniel sent a fly ball single over the head of the Alvin center field for the walk-off win.

The winning base hit was McDaniel's second in four days after he doubled in the winning tally in a 3-2 victory over Wharton County Junior College on March 22.

"Big hits in big moments are something you love to see," Hart added. "Give credit to all of those guys, especially Ferraro and Britton for getting us close to begin with; then Allen for doing a job in a big spot; and Ryder for coming through for us once again."

Blinn finished with 15 hits, led by three apiece for Britton and Sullivan. Sullivan had a team-high three RBIs. Fryman and McDaniel each added two hits. Britton and McDaniel also added a pair of RBIs apiece. 

The series now moves to Alvin, where the teams are scheduled for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday.