Baseball 2/12/2026 8:50:00 AM

No. 2 Blinn splits competitive doubleheader with Temple

The Buccaneers take on No. 6 McLennan in a three-game series starting Friday

Baseball 2/12/2026 8:50:00 AM

No. 2 Blinn splits competitive doubleheader with Temple

The Buccaneers take on No. 6 McLennan in a three-game series starting Friday

The second-ranked Blinn College baseball team split a home doubleheader with Temple College on Wednesday at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham, Texas.

The Buccaneers rallied for a 5-3 game-one victory before dropping a 1-0, 11-inning nail-biter in the nightcap.

"You always want to win both games, but these games are meant to be tough right now to prepare us for our region schedule," Blinn head coach Dusty Hart said. "I was happy with the way we competed in both games, we just didn't get the big hits when we needed them to get the sweep."

In the opener, Blinn's offense bided its time behind freshman starting pitcher Trevor Moore, who earned the win with a strong six-inning stint. He allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits with one walk and eight strikes. He is now 2-0 this season.

"I thought Trevor threw very well for us and did a really good job of not letting the game get out of hand," Hart said. "He gave up the three-run home run in the third inning and then just locked in and handcuffed Temple after that. I was really impressed with him today."

The Leopards used the longball for an early lead while starting pitcher Tobin Eschief kept the Bucs without a hit until the fourth inning.

When Blinn did finally break through against Eschief, they did so in a big way.

With one out, freshman designated hitter Zachary Tuxhorn singled and sophomore second baseman Hunter Smolinski smacked a two-run homer.

Sophomore second baseman Jacob Bohacek followed with a single, sophomore outfielder Reece Lunsford walked, and after a wild pitch advanced both runners, sophomore center fielder Kason Atkins tied the game with a sacrifice fly.

"I thought the guys fought hard and kept their heads down," Hart explained. "We had some really good at-bats and battled our way back into it. Then we had the big home run in the sixth."

Blinn jumped ahead for good in the home half of the sixth when Smolinski led off with a single and trotted home on Bohacek's drive over the left-field wall.

Smolinski and Bohacek each had two of Blinn's five hits.

Sophomore pitcher Hudson Melaerts entered for the Bucs in the seventh and earned the save. He allowed one hit and one walk with two strikeouts and stranded two Leopards baserunners.

Game two was a far different story for both teams, as Blinn sophomore starting pitcher Jack Garza and Temple starter Peyton Reynolds went toe-to-toe for six innings.

Garza was masterful in his first outing of the season, allowing just two hits and two walks with nine strikeouts. Reynolds allowed one hit and one walk with three punchouts in six frames.

"You want your starter to give you some length, and I don't think we could have asked for a better start from Jack," Hart said. "He threw the ball well and we played great defense behind him."

Following Garza was freshman Corby Wagoner, who impressed in his first collegiate appearance. He tossed 4 2/3 innings of relief, allowed three hits and two walks with five punchouts, and gave up a tough-luck run in the top of the 11th.

"Corby threw as good as we could have asked him to throw, and I think it was a sign of things to come for him," Hart said. "He'll definitely get his number called more often."

Wagoner exited the game with the bases loaded before Temple drew a walk off redshirt freshman reliever Landon Bowden to take the lead.

In the bottom of the 11th, Smolinski and Bohacek led off with back-to-back singles, and freshman third baseman Ryley Leininger moved them over with a sacrifice bunt.

From there, however, a strike out and groundout ended Blinn's rally.

The Bucs finished with five hits – all singles.

"We had a chance to win the game in the last inning, and I'll take that every time we play," said Hart, "we just didn't get the big hit. It's unfortunate to lose that way but that's not why we lost. We had our opportunities earlier in the game and we didn't cash in."

Up next, Blinn will face No. 6 McLennan Community College in a three-game away-and-home series. The teams will meet for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday in Waco, Texas, and return to Brenham for the finale at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 53 national championships since 1987.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Reece Lunsford: OF; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#10 Kason Atkins: IF; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#12 Corby Wagoner: P; 6' 0"; Freshman

#14 Jacob Bohacek: SS; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#17 Hunter Smolinski: SS; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#21 Landon Bowden: P; 6' 1"; Freshman

#22 Trevor Moore: P; 6' 1"; Freshman

#25 Ryley Leininger: IF; 6' 2"; Freshman

#26 Zachary Tuxhorn: C; 6' 1"; Freshman

#35 Hudson Melaerts: P; 6' 5"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#1 Reece Lunsford
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: OF

#10 Kason Atkins
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: IF

#12 Corby Wagoner
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: P

#14 Jacob Bohacek
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: SS

#17 Hunter Smolinski
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: SS

#21 Landon Bowden
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: P

#22 Trevor Moore
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: P

#25 Ryley Leininger
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: IF

#26 Zachary Tuxhorn
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: C

#35 Hudson Melaerts
: 6' 5"; Sophomore
: P