BRENHAM, Texas – The Blinn Buccaneers’ 2013 baseball season opened in disappointing fashion at Leroy Dreyer Field Wednesday with a pair of losses to Temple College.
The Leopards’ pitching staff held Blinn to just eight hits in the double-header, taking the first game 3-0 before defeating the Bucs 5-2 in the nightcap.
Temple’s Tyler Vail threw five shutout innings to earn the Game 1 win while Randy Vallejo threw two shutout innings in relief. Temple scored all three of its runs in the first inning as Justin Law drove in a pair and Taylor Bridges drove another run home.
Scott Jones, Cullen Gassaway, Taylor Cobb and Colin Fry each had one hit apiece for the Buccaneers.
Blake Whitter threw four innings for Blinn, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks. He struck out two.
Michael Vielma threw two shutout innings of relief while Trent Rape threw three scoreless innings.
In Game 2, Temple got another strong pitching performance, this time from Dillon Mangham, who struck out six over five innings without allowing an earned run.
Law drove in two more runs while Ryan Brinley went 2-for-3 for Temple.
Tyler Coker and Kevin Santan each had a pair of hits and drove in an RBI for the Buccaneers, while Gassaway and Fry also had hits.
Karl Malecek tookthe loss for the Bucs, allowing three earned runs in five innings. He walked one and struck out two. J.C. Neighbors threw two innings of relief, allowing one unearned run.
The Buccaneers will look to bounce back Friday when they play Howard College in a noon double-header in Waco.
For more information on Blinn baseball, visit www.buccaneersports.com.