BRENHAM, Texas – Blinn College baseball collected 10 hits en route to an 11-2 victory over No. 5 McLennan Community College on Monday afternoon at Leroy Dreyer Field.
"I am really proud of this team because they went out there and pitched well, swung well and turned double plays, so it was a really great day," said Harvey McIntyre, Blinn head coach. "It was great that we started this week playing a really good team and showed up early to play."
With the win, Blinn's overall record increases to 30-13.
"We have been working really hard, so it feels really good to beat a ranked team," said Sammy Blair, who went 3-for-4. "Jumping on them in the first inning and then continuing to take good swings helped us get the win."
Reggie McCalister led Blinn's offense with three RBIs, while Cameron Gibbons and Blair each drove in two runs. Gibbons managed three hits, while scoring three runs, and McCalister and Koby Collins each scored two runs.
Eli Reichmann sealed the win on the mound after pitching three scoreless innings without surrendering a hit to start the game. Jackson Leath pitched two scoreless innings, while Zach Smith, Brice Armistead and Cody Collins each pitched one scoreless inning out of the bullpen.
Blinn took off with the momentum early after scoring six runs in the opening inning. Seven walks and three singles allowed the Buccaneers to take an early 6-0 lead that they never would surrender. McCalister was the first to score after Alec Sanchez walked the bases loaded. Next, Gibbons and Blair each produced two-run singles, while McCalister chimed in with a one-run single.
In the third inning, Blinn added four more runs for a 10-0 advantage. Gibbons and Collins scored the first two runs on an error, while Blair scored on a wild pitch. Brandon Ashy drove in the final run of the inning with a single for McCalister to score.
Blinn scored its final run in the fourth inning after Drew Ardoin walked the bases loaded for Gibbons, who led off the inning with a single, to score.
McLennan scored its only runs in the game in the sixth inning with a two-run homer for an 11-2 final.
"This win shows us that we can beat any team and we want to keep that momentum going into the next four games," Reichmann said.
The Buccaneers will begin a four-game conference series against No. 3 San Jacinto College-North on Thursday, April 26 with a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. on the road. The series will return to Leroy Dreyer Field on Saturday, April 28 for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. featuring the Alumni & Friends and Lettermen games. San Jacinto College-North currently leads the Region XIV Conference standings, while Blinn follows in second place.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 38 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
