BRENHAM, Texas – A strong pitching performance by Dakota Mills and just enough offense was enough for Blinn College baseball to earn a 3-1 victory March 6 over Wharton County Junior College in the first game at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham.
Wharton did get the better of Blinn in the second game 8-3 to earn a split in Brenham. By splitting the pair of games, Blinn's conference record moves to 5-7 and 13-8 overall.
Mills was able to go all seven innings for the Buccaneers and struck out five while not allowing a base runner in the final four innings of the game. Cullen Jozwiak, Jager Toffan and Ben Upton each knocked in a run in the victory.
Blinn got going early as Patrick King started the bottom of the first with a single and then came around to score on a ground out by Toffan for a 1-0 lead. Upton followed with a double to left-center to score Toffan for a 2-0 advantage after one.
Wharton did get one run back in the top of the second inning but Blinn came right back in the bottom half. With two outs, Jose Reyes started a rally with a double and then Jozwiak followed two batters later with a single to give Blinn a 3-1 lead. That would be all the cushion Mills would need in the first game to pick up the victory.
Wharton brought a lot more offense in the second game as it scored five runs combined in the fourth and fifth innings and Blinn was never able to catch up in an 8-3 loss. Jozwiak, Toffan and Stephen Stuart each had two hits for the Buccaneers in the defeat.
Wharton put up three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth to build a 5-0 lead before Blinn could get any runs on the board. Toffan changed all that with a solo shot in the sixth to right but the Buccaneers still trailed 5-1 after six.
Wharton added a single run in the seventh for a 6-1 lead. Blinn did answer in the bottom half when Reyes was hit by a pitch and King followed with a single. Jozwiak brought in a run with a double and then Christian Thames followed with a sacrifice fly to right to get Blinn within 6-3 of Wharton. Unfortunately, that would be the final runs scored by Blinn as Wharton added a pair of runs in the ninth for an 8-3 final.
Blinn will be home on March 11 for a non-conference game against South Suburban College at 6 p.m.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 30 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit: www.buccaneersports.com.
About Blinn College
Founded in 1883, Blinn is a comprehensive community college committed to educational excellence and to individual and community enhancement. With an enrollment of 19,317 students, Blinn ranks among the nation's leaders in transferring students to leading four-year universities and has received national recognition for its affordable educational excellence.
As part of its commitment to student success, Blinn is implementing a Quality Enhancement Plan titled "Destination Success: First-Year Focus," which utilizes learning communities to support first-year college students.
For enrollment information and to learn about financial aid opportunities, visit: www.blinn.edu.
