BRENHAM, Texas — Nick Wolff and Reggie McCalister each launched two-run homers to help Blinn College baseball (28-17, 19-12) rally for an 8-5 win over Coastal Bend College in Monday's doubleheader finale at Leroy Dreyer Field.
Earlier in the day, Blinn outhit Coastal Bend in the first game of the doubleheader, but fell to the Cougars 1-0.
Coastal Bend 1 – Blinn 0
Coastal Bend scored the only run of the game in the top of the fourth inning and held on to defeat Blinn 1-0 in the doubleheader opener.
Blinn's pitching staff held Coastal Bend to just four hits as Matthew Swick threw three scoreless innings, and AJ Irvin, Otto Stacey and Kyle Gough each tossed one shutout inning.
Although Blinn's offense was shutout, they managed to outhit the Cougars, totaling five hits. Jake Miller and Westley Schields each hit doubles, while Alec Sanchez, Gray Rodgers and Blake Faecher each recorded singles.
A solo home run to lead off the fourth inning is all Coastal Bend needed to earn the 1-0 win.
Blinn 8 – Coastal Bend 5
The Buccaneers went deep twice to rally for late runs and defeat Coastal Bend 8-5 in the doubleheader finale.
McCalister and Wolff each drove in two runs with home runs, while Greyson Kash scored two runs in the win.
Judson Schaper recorded the win after coming in for one inning and only allowing one run on two hits, while striking out two.
Coastal Bend kept the momentum rolling in the second game by taking an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
The Buccaneers scored their first run of the day in the bottom of the inning to even the score. Richard Bailey sparked the offense with a leadoff double, Vinklarek followed with a sacrifice bunt and Bailey scored on a wild pitch to get Blinn on the board.
Kash hit a solo home run in the second lead for the Buccaneers to take a 2-1 lead.
Following a scoreless third inning, Coastal Bend added two runs to the scoreboard in the fourth inning to lead 3-2. The Buccaneers earned one run back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game when Kash scored on a sacrifice fly.
The Cougars fought back for a 4-3 lead by scoring one run in the fifth inning.
Blinn was able to fight back from the one-run deficit when Wolff hit a two-run blast after Cody Vinklarek drew a walk to lead off the fifth inning. The Buccaneers extended their lead to 8-4 after Brett Minninch tripled in the sixth inning for Miller to score and McCalister followed with a two-run blast.
Coastal Bend rallied for one run in the seventh inning, but it wasn't enough to catch up with Blinn.
Next, Blinn will host San Jacinto College-North in a doubleheader on Thursday, May 2, starting at 4 p.m. at Leroy Dreyer Field.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 41 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
