Baseball 4/18/2026 10:42:00 AM

No. 7 Blinn splits twin bill with Alvin behind game-two blowout

The Buccaneers won the four-game series against the Dolphins and moved to 33-12 overall

Baseball 4/18/2026 10:42:00 AM

No. 7 Blinn splits twin bill with Alvin behind game-two blowout

The Buccaneers won the four-game series against the Dolphins and moved to 33-12 overall

A disappointing opener in Friday's doubleheader with Alvin Community College resulted in an explosive finish for the No. 7 Blinn College baseball team.

The Buccaneers bounced back from a 15-3, five-inning loss in game one and clubbed the Dolphins 14-2 (five innings) in the finale to earn a split with their Region 14 South rivals at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham, Texas.

"We weren't ready to play in that first game, and I think we went into it just going through the motions and never quite settled in," Blinn head coach Dusty Hart said. "We went into game two mad because of the first result, and we locked in immediately. When we're in a good place mentally, competing, and playing the game the right way, we're tough to beat."

Blinn (33-12, 21-7 South) took three of four from Alvin and won six of seven in the regular-season series.

Game one saw the Dolphins race out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning before adding four more in the second.

The Buccaneers got on the board in the bottom of the second when sophomore utility man Benji Barrera smacked a two-run home run to center field. Sophomore infielder Jacob Bohacek followed with an RBI single to make it 8-3 in the third.

Alvin put the game out of reach with a seven-run fourth inning.

Blinn finished with six hits, led by Bohacek's two-hit performance.

Redshirt freshman pitcher Luke Ekdall (4-6) took the loss. He was charged with 12 runs (four earned) on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts across 3 1/3 innings.

Following the final out of game one, Barrera said the Bucs quickly turned their attention to the finale.

"Sometimes, nothing has to be said," Barrera explained. "We know that the first game wasn't acceptable, and we also know as a team that we're better than that, so we left it up to ourselves to get back on track."

Barrera helped lead Blinn's response in game two.

With the Buccaneers leading 2-1 in the bottom of the third, Barrera blasted a grand slam off the batter's eye in center field to give the hosts a 6-1 cushion. It marked the first two-homer game and first grand slam of his career.

"I just took advantage of some pitches Alvin left down the middle of the plate," he said. "I was fortunate to get a good swing on that grand slam ball, and it was big for our team at that moment."

Barrera's big fly – his third of the season – sparked a 10-run inning for Blinn.

Freshman third baseman Ryley Leininger followed with a towering solo home run to right field (his seventh); sophomore infielder Hunter Smolinski and Bohacek added RBI singles; sophomore infielder Drew Britton doubled in two runs; and freshman designated hitter Austin Glasscock capped the surge with an RBI single.

After Alvin got one back in the fourth, Blinn answered with two more in the bottom half.

Bohacek drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and sophomore utility player Kason Atkins scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead.

Alvin opened the scoring in the first inning before Britton tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the bottom half. Freshman catcher/designated hitter Zachary Tuxhorn then blasted his 10th home run of the season to left field to give the Bucs the lead for good.

Blinn finished with 12 hits, with all nine starters recording at least one. Atkins went 3 for 3; Smolinski added two hits; and Barrera and Britton drove in four and three runs, respectively.

With the offense rolling, redshirt freshman Travis Minard (4-0) turned in a complete-game performance. He allowed two earned runs on five hits with no walks and four strikeouts.

"I knew we had to bounce back in game two, so my plan was just to go out and fill up the strike zone," Minard said.

With a fastball that hovers around 90 miles per hour, Minard said he focuses on pitching to contact and trusting his defense.

"You just have to know who you are as a pitcher," he said. "I'm not going to be the guy right now who throws 95 miles per hour and blows you away. My plan is always to locate my pitches and get those weak ground balls and pop ups. My defense did a great job behind me and played a huge role in my success today."

Next up, Blinn hosts Galveston College for the opener of a three-game Region 14 South series at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, at Leroy Dreyer Field. The series concludes with a doubleheader Saturday, April 25, in Galveston, Texas.

The upcoming series could also mark a milestone for Hart, who enters the week with 797 career wins. A Blinn sweep would give him 800.

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

Print Friendly Version