WHARTON, Texas – Following Friday's sweep over Wharton, Blinn baseball coach Harvey McIntyre asked his offense to stop sitting on so many fastballs and show more aggression at the plate.

In the first pitch of the first at-bat of the first game in Wharton on Saturday, leadoff hitter Nolan Brown launched a fastball over the right field wall.

The Buccaneers went on to pound 13 hits, score eight runs and beat the Pioneers 8-5 in Saturday's opener to secure a series win to start off the second half of Region XIV Conference play. Wharton won Game 2, 9-1.

"We told them Friday that we need to be more aggressive. Good hitters are ready to hit at any time," McIntyre said. "I thought they did a great job today and swung the bats really well."

Brown, who finished the day 2-for-5 with three RBI, also launched a two-run shot in the top of the sixth to make it an 8-5 game. Sophomore first baseman Cullen Gassaway sent a two-run shot out of the yard in the thir d to tie the game at 4.

Blinn (22-15, 15-9) had a base runner in every inning but the fourth.

Freshman Jager Toffan finished the game 3-for-3 with two runs scored, and second baseman Cullen Jozwiak went 3-for-4 with a run scored.  Gassaway was 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Despite giving up five runs—four earned—sophomore Shane McCarley was able to pitch around any major damage on the mound. McCarley tossed 6 1-3 innings, allowed 11 hits and struck out two.

"Shane was able to minimize some things today and give our offense a chance," McIntyre said.

Seth Ballew closed out the game in the final 2-3 of an inning.

Blinn's offense had no trouble getting on base in Game 2—the Bucs collected 10 hits—but it could never drive in runs to close the deficit. Wharton jumped ahead with a three-run home run in the bottom of the first.

"You'd like to finish the sweep, but to get three wins to start the second half of conference is great," McIntyre said.