LAREDO, Texas – Blinn College baseball only scored in two of the nine innings but that was enough to hold on for a 5-4 series-opening victory over Laredo Community College Friday evening.
"Proud of our team effort on the road tonight in a tough place to play," said Harvey McIntyre, Blinn head coach. "This was a total team effort in all three phases for our club tonight."
The Buccaneers improve to 15-13 overall with the win and 7-6 in Region XIV play.
Johnny Rizer had the hot bat again for Blinn. A game after bringing in six runs, Rizer knocked in three more against Laredo with a home run and added a pair of singles in the win. Jay Anderson had the other RBI and hit for a double and a single. Marshall Skinner had three singles and Anthony Jones added a pair as the Buccaneers narrowly outhit Laredo 12 to 11.
Andrew Morgan was able to pick up the win on the mound to improve to 4-2 on year. Morgan pitched six innings and allowed just two earned runs on nine hits while striking out four. Cody Collins came on in the ninth to pitch a scoreless inning for the save by striking out three batters.
Laredo was able to strike first with single runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 2-0 lead.
Blinn was able to strike back in the fifth when Jones singled with one out and then came in to score on an error later in the inning for the first run. Rizer followed that with a three-run home run to right to give Blinn a 4-2 lead.
The Buccaneers padded their lead in the sixth when Skinner led off with a single and then came in to score after a double by Anderson to left for a 5-2 lead.
The Blinn bullpen made the game interesting in the final innings as Laredo scored a single run in the seventh and eighth innings to get within 5-4 but that would be as close as the Palominos would get.
Blinn will play two more against Laredo on Saturday, March 25 starting at noon.
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.
