ALVIN, Texas – Blinn College baseball displayed a strong offense and defense in the sweeping of Alvin Community College by the scores of 10-5 and 10-3 on Friday afternoon for the Buccaneers 21st conference win.
With the pair of wins, Blinn's record increases to 29-13 overall and 21-6 in Region XIV play.
Blinn 10 – Alvin 5
Blinn's offense came alive in the first game of the doubleheader as the Buccaneers managed 10 runs and eight hits to defeat Alvin, 10-5.
Reggie McCalister, Drew Ardoin, Brandon Ashy and Koby Collins all drove in two runs, while Alec Sanchez and Sammy Blair scored two runs apiece.
Kyle Gray earned his sixth win this season after allowing four runs on nine hits, while striking out seven and walking two in five innings.
Blinn led off the game with a 2-0 lead in the opening inning that it held onto for the remainder of the game. Ashy drove in the first two runs for Marshall Skinner and Gray Rodgers to score.
Alvin scored its first run in the second inning to trim the Buccaneers lead to 2-1.
Blinn's best offensive performance was in the fourth inning when the Buccaneers tallied five runs. Collins and Blair hit back-to-back doubles for three runs to score as Ashy, Sanchez and Collins all made it across the plate. Ardoin drove in the next run with a single for Blair to score, while Skinner recorded his first RBI with a single to send McCalister home.
The Dolphins also had their best offensive inning in the bottom half of the fourth after scoring three runs to trail 7-4.
In the fifth inning, Blinn added three runs after Sanchez and Cameron Gibbons each scored on an error and Blair scored on a groundout.
Alvin scored one last run in the seventh inning before falling 10-5.
Blinn 10 – Alvin 3
Blinn continued to show strength on both sides of the ball as the Buccaneers defeated Alvin, 10-3, to conclude the four-game conference series against the Dolphins with a sweep.
Kasey Kalich recorded the win on the mound after pitching seven innings and only surrendering two runs on four hits, while striking out six.
Blair led the offense after going 3-for-4 and driving in four runs, while Mason Michalec went 3-for-5 and scored two runs.
Blinn held a 2-0 lead after Blair used a one-run single for Jake Miller to score in the second inning and Skinner scored in the third inning on a groundout.
Alvin evened the score 2-2 in the bottom of the third inning, but Blinn took back the lead in the fourth inning as Blair hit a single for Michalec to score and the Buccaneers to pull ahead 3-2.
Blinn extended its lead with three runs in the fifth inning to 6-2. Ashy sparked the offense with a double for Rodgers to score, then Sanchez followed with a two-run homer.
In the eighth inning Blair and Ardoin each scored on an error for Blinn to lead, 8-2.
Alvin scored its final run in the bottom of the eighth inning, however Blinn wasn't done scoring. Blair drove home Ashy and Michalec for two more runs with a double in the ninth inning for a 10-3 final.
Blinn will take a break from conference play on Monday, April 23 when the Buccaneers host No. 5 McLennan Community College at 3 p.m. in a nine-inning game at Leroy Dreyer Field.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 38 NJCAA national championships since 1987.