BRENHAM, Texas – Angel De La Fuente supplied the offense early on as Blinn College baseball pulled away from Galveston College late for an 11-3 victory in eight innings Thursday night at Leroy Dreyer Field.
The Buccaneers now improve to 11-6 overall and stay perfect in Region XIV play with a 4-0 record. Blinn has won seven straight games overall and four straight in conference.
De La Fuente, who missed nearly all of the Wharton County Junior College series with a back injury, supplied nearly all the offense in the first six innings as he hit a pair of home runs and a double to bring in five runs.
"Playing in my first full game back after tightness in my back it felt nice out there," De La Fuente said. "I really don't feel like I like to do too much out there at the plate because we have a great offense overall."
Connor Whitaker brought in a pair of runs with a single while Tyler Fowler also brought in a pair of runs with a double in the win.
Cody LeComte picked up the win on the mound by lasting six innings and allowing one earned run on five hits while striking out six. Will Floyd came in to pitch the final two innings and only allowed one earned run while striking out four.
"Cody LeCompte really competed out there because there were some innings where he had some pressure," said Harvey McIntyre, Blinn head coach.
Galveston got the scoring started in the top of the first with a single run to take a 1-0 lead but Blinn would answer back in the bottom half. The Buccaneers got back-to-back walks from Whitaker and Johnny Rizer to set the table for a two-run double by De La Fuente just inside the left field line for a 2-1 lead. De La Fuente later scored on a Galveston throwing error for a 3-1 advantage.
Galveston did get within 3-2 with a single run in the sixth inning but again the Buccaneers would answer. De La Fuente brought in his third run of the game with a solo home run to left for a 4-2 lead. Galveston scored one in the seventh to get within 4-3 of Blinn.
Clinging to a one run lead, Blinn went to work in the eighth inning as Rizer doubled to start the inning and then De La Fuente added his second home run of the game and knocked in his fifth run to give the Buccaneers a 6-3 edge.
The offense opened up for Blinn as Fowler drove in a pair of runs with a double to left for an 8-3 lead. Whitaker added to the damage with a two-run single through the right side of the infield for a 10-3 lead. Whitaker later scored on a Galveston error to make the score 11-3 and end the game an inning early.
Blinn will travel to face Galveston on Saturday, March 4 for a doubleheader beginning at noon. Following the loss, Galveston now stands at 1-3 through for game in Region XIV play.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 34 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.
About Blinn College
With an enrollment of 19,422 students, Blinn ranks among the nation's leaders in transferring students to leading four-year universities and has received national recognition for affordable educational excellence. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu.
