SUGAR LAND, Texas – Blinn College baseball was down to its last out and trailing by one run in the ninth but the Buccaneers didn't throw in the towel and tied the game in the ninth and then put the game away in the 10th inning to earn a 5-3 victory over Northeast Texas Community College Saturday evening at Skeeter Park in Sugar Land.
The Region XIV Tournament quarterfinal victory will ensure that Blinn will be one of two undefeated teams left in the tournament tomorrow.
Cullen Jozwiak delivered the tying run with a single to right in the ninth and then Blinn didn't stop there as Ben Upton and Patrick King each had RBI singles to guide the Buccaneers to victory. Blinn improved its overall record to 28-24 and will play the winner between Angelina College and San Jacinto College-North Sunday, May 10 at 5 p.m. at Skeeter Park.
Kaylor Chafin pulled out a gutsy performance on the mound, going nine innings and only allowing three runs while striking out nine. Nick Masarik came on in the 10th to clean up the game after the offense put two on the board in the top half.
Stephen Stuart, Jager Toffan, Upton and Walker Winders each had two hits for the Blinn offense that showed up right on time.
Just like in its first game, Blinn got off to a fast start in the first inning. Jozwiak started it with a walk and Stuart followed with a single that brought in Jozwiak for a 1-0 lead. Christian Thames brought in a second run with a single to left to give Blinn a 2-0 lead after a half inning.
The offense went dry for the Buccaneers and Northeast tied the game in the third with two runs and then took the lead in the seventh with a single run for a 3-2 advantage.
Blinn literally waited until the final out to start a rally as Winders started with a single and Jose Reyes was hit by a pitch. Jozwiak was able to deliver the tying run on a single to right to score pinch-runner Conner Smith to knot the game up at 3-3.
After Chafin held Northeast scoreless in the bottom of the ninth, Blinn went after the lead in the 10th. Toffan started it up with a single and then was followed with an RBI single by Upton for the go-ahead run. King pushed across an important insurance run with a single to center to give the Buccaneers a 5-3 lead that would hold up after Northeast failed to score in the bottom half.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 32 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.
