BRENHAM, Texas – Looking to protect its home field advantage, Blinn College baseball came out and beat Laredo Community College in both games of a double-header by the of 4-1 and 11-3 at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham.
The pair of victories levels the conference record for Blinn at 8-8 and its overall record stands at 17-9.
"We have got to use these victories as momentum and keep moving forward," said Blinn head coach Harvey McIntyre. "This is a step in the right direction, no doubt."
Blinn got a solid pitching performance from Kaylor Chafin on the mound in the first game as he went all seven innings and only allowed a single run while striking out seven in the win. Runs were hard to come by in the first game but Stephen Stuart knocked in two of the four runs with a pair of singles while Conner Smith also knocked in a run.
The Buccaneers got the scoring going in the second when Robbie Rojas reached on an error and then came around to score after a single by Stuart to right for a 1-0 lead. Laredo did tie the game up in the fourth with a single run but Blinn would get the lead right back.
In the bottom of the fourth, Christian Thames started it with a double and then was able to score on a sacrifice fly hit by Smith for a 2-1 lead. Stuart came up with his second straight clutch hit with an RBI single to right to score Rojas for a 3-1 lead.
Blinn went for a little insurance in the fifth when Patrick King started the inning with a single and then came around to score on a Laredo error for a 4-1 advantage. That would be more than enough run support for Chafin on the mound to win the opener.
Offensive support was in rich supply in the second game for Blinn as the Buccaneers scored five in the first inning and chased a pitcher before even getting an out on their way to an 11-3 victory to sweep visiting Laredo.
Rojas came up big for Blinn by knocking in three runs by way of two singles. Thames and Hunter Lehman each knocked in a pair of runs in the offensive explosion. Nathan Alexander pitched a quality game on the mound for the win, going seven innings and only allowing three runs while striking out six. Justin Penney came on in relief and pitched two scoreless innings.
Laredo actually held a 2-0 lead after a half inning but Blinn came right back in the bottom of the first. Cullen Jozwiak was able to draw a walk on four straight pitches and later came around to score to cut the Laredo lead in half.
Thames tied the game at 2-2 with a double to center to score Stuart. Lehman gave Blinn the lead with a two-run single to center for a 4-2 edge. Rojas capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to plate Lehman for a 5-2 lead. Laredo did get a single run in the fourth inning to make the score 5-3 but that would be the final time a Laredo player would touch the plate.
Blinn added a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Thames started it with a lead-off single and Jager Toffan was able to hit him in with a sacrifice fly. Rojas followed with an RBI single to center to make the score 7-3.
Continuing its offensive onslaught, Blinn went right back to work in the sixth as Jozwiak reached base after getting hit by a pitch. Stuart was able to bring in Jozwiak with a single to right for an 8-3 lead.
Toffan brought in a run with a bases loaded walk and then Rojas followed with an RBI single to left to score Smith for a commanding 10-3 lead. Jozwiak added another run in the seventh after he reached on a fielder's choice and then came around to score after a single by Thames for an 11-3 lead that would turn out to be the final score.
Blinn will have a non-conference game March 16 at McLennan Community College at 1 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.
