Beeville, Tx- The #5 ranked Cougars (7-3) split a double header with Blinn College on Tuesday, February 18th. Coastal Bend won the first game, 4-5 but fell behind early in the second game, falling short of a comeback.
In game one of the double header, Blinn scored one run in each of the first two innings. The Cougars responded in the Bottom half of the Second with two runs of their own to knot up the game.
Moving ahead to the Fifth inning, CBC was able to take the lead by scoring one run. The lead was short lived, as the Bucs crossed the plate twice in the Sixth inning to regain the lead, 4-3. Closer, Alec Cruz entered the ball game to relieve Tyler Hollingsworth on the mound after the two runs.
Again, Coastal Bend responded with another two run inning in the Bottom of the Sixth inning to retake the lead from Blinn. In the Top of the Seventh inning, Cruz and company produced a quick inning to end the ball game for the win. Cruz finished the game by pitching one and two thirds of an inning, allowing three hits and one strikeout for his first win of the season.
The scoring for CBC was a team effort, as each Argelio Guajardo, JB Trees, Ronnie Bailey Jr and Bret Copeland recorded an RBI for the game. CBC Designated Hitter, Kane Mendietta hit a Solo Home Run in the Fifth inning, his first of his collegiate career.
The Cougars looked to take the second game from the Buccaneers, but Blinn had other plans. The Buccaneers' bats came out swinging in the First inning, scoring two runs in the frame.
Moving to the Top of the Third inning, the Bucs would extend their lead by three runs by scoring one run in the side. In the Bottom of the Third inning, CBC was able to cut the deficit by crossing the plate twice.
During the Top of the Fourth inning, Blinn would knock the ball around, hanging up four runs in the inning. The Cougars would respond back with two runs to climb back in the 7-4 ball game.
In the Top of the Sixth and Seventh innings, the Bucs scored one run in both frames to extend their lead, 9-4. Needing some serious help at the dish, the Cougars would cross plate once more before Blinn ended the game on the CBC rally.
Blinn split the double header as they went on to win the second game of the day, 9-5.
The Cougars move to 8-4 on the season. CBC will host a familiar opponent this coming weekend, in Western Oklahoma State College for a four game series. The first pitch of the series will be at 5:00 PM at Joe Hunter Field on Friday, February 21st.