BRENHAM, Texas — Westley Schields tallied two RBIs and two runs to lift the Blinn College baseball team (2-1) to a 5-3 victory over Eastfield College in the Buccaneers' home opener at Leroy Dreyer Field.
"I was proud of the way that we competed on offense and how we threw it for nine innings," said Harvey McIntyre, Blinn head coach.
Brett Minnich went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs, Preston Hoffart knocked in one run, and Tyler Russell, Kam Kelton, and Matt Crossley each scored one run to help lead the offense.
"The home opener is always really exciting, so it was great to be back on our home field in front of our home fans and get the win," Schields said. "I was trying to take what the game gave me, hit the pitches that I wanted to hit, run the bases hard, and put myself in good position to score and let other guys drive me in."
Jack Driskell gave Blinn a good start, surrendering just two runs on three hits in three innings. Trevor Mott earned the win after throwing 4 2/3 innings and surrendering one run on two hits and striking out six. Eric Oakes recorded the save, only surrendering one hit in the final 1 1/3 inning.
Schields opened the first inning with a walk and scored on a Minnich single for Blinn to lead 1-0. The Buccaneers held the lead until the third inning when Eastfield scored two runs. However, the Harvesters didn't hold it long as the Buccaneers tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the inning. Schields led off the inning with a walk and Minnich once again batted him in with a single.
Blinn took a 4-2 lead for good in the fourth inning after Kelton and Crossley drew back-to-back walks and both scored on a double off the bat of Schields.
Eastfield scored one run in the fifth inning to gain on Blinn 4-3, but the Buccaneers got the run back in the bottom of the inning. Russell drew a walk and advanced to scoring position on Minnich's single then scored on Hoffart's single.
Mott and Oakes didn't allow a run for the next four innings for the Buccaneers to earn the win.
Next, Blinn will take on Eastfield in a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 8, starting at noon, at Leroy Dreyer Field.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 41 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
