Bucs take two from Panola
Blinn pitchers shine in double-header

BRENHAM, Texas – The Blinn Buccaneer pitching staff showed a lot of heart on Valentine’s Day.
Five pitchers combined to hold the Panola College Ponies to two runs over 14 innings as the Buccaneers picked up 5-0 and 5-2 victories at Leroy Dreyer Field here Tuesday night.
“The highlight for me was to see us throw 14 innings on a Tuesday and only give up two runs,” Blinn coach Harvey McIntyre said. “I thought that was impressive.”
Karl Malecek threw five shutout innings in the opening game before Brandon Kirkham came on to throw the final two without allowing a hit. Panola finish with three hits for the game.
Blinn center fielder Kevin Daniels went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs, and sophomore shortstop Jake Kane went 3-for-3 with an RBI. Josh Garza and Markus Carr also drove in runs for the Bucs.
In the nightcap, Kyle Mueller threw four full innings before Trent Rape entered the game in the fifth with the bases loaded and no one out. Rape got out of the inning while allowing just one run, and Taylor Cobb threw a scoreless seventh to close out the game.
Carr hit a two-run home run and Hayden Vesely added a solo shot. Eric Wood and Eric Preuss also drove in runs for the Buccaneers.
“Offensively, we really executed. It was good to see them do that,” McIntyre said. “We executed every bunt and several hit-and-runs.”
The wins improved Blinn to 7-4 on the season. The Bucs are 5-4 in Region XIV action, and return to conference play with a 6 p.m. game against San Jacinto at Leroy Dreyer Field. Blinn will travel to Houston Saturday for a 2 p.m. double-header.