Coastal Bend College baseball hosted Blinn College on Tuesday, April 19th to begin a four game Region XIV Conference series. Though, the Buccaneers led early, the Cougars rallied for a 13-5 victory.
After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first, CBC trimmed the deficit by crossing the plate for a run in the bottom half of the inning. The Cougars would then knot up the game, 2-2 by scoring another run in the bottom of the second frame.
Moving to the bottom of the fourth inning, Coastal Bend erupted for five runs to take a 7-2 lead. The Cougars weren't done there, they added another two runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead.
Blinn exerted a rally of their own in the Top of the sixth to make it a 9-5 ball game. After holding the Bucs scoreless in the following two innings, the Cougars batted around four more runs to make it a 13-5 contest, run-ruling their way to a win.
Ian Sexton was on the bump for CBC. The Righty went five and two thirds allowing five earned runs on six walks and two hits. Sexton also struck out four opposing batters during his second win of the season. Relief Pitcher, Johnny Garza entered the game for the Cougars to releive Sexton in the sixth inning. Garza earned his second Save of the year while allowing only one walk during his outing.
CBC Right Fielder, Keagan Solomon lead the offensive fire power with three RBI's. Three Cougars hit for two RBI's on the day; Ben Hovda, Damian Rodriguez and Eric Martinez. Garrett Whitaker and Ryan Davenport also knock in an RBI for Coastal Bend.
The series would shift to Fireman's Park in Brenham, TX for game two. Coastal Bend came out swinging with their hot bats, slugging their way to a 14-4 victory over the Bucs.
Everything went the Cougars way, especially in the first inning, as CBC jumped out to a 6-0 lead with the help of some power hitting. Coastal Bend didn't stop there, as they continued to knock the baseball all around the field.
The Cougars went on to score eight more runs the rest of the game en route to another run-rule. Coastal Bend scored at least one run in each of the five innings played for the game.
Jaden Meredith earned his fourth victory for CBC. The hurler went the distance and pitched five complete innings, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks. Meredith also struck out three opposing batters.
The long ball is what helped propel Coastal Bend all game long, as the team hit a combined six home runs on the day. Damian Rodriguez hit two dingers on the day, to go with his three RBI's. Ben Hovda, Keagan Solomon, Eric Martinez and Garrett Whitaker all went yard for the game. Hovda and Whitaker both collected three RBI's for the Cougars. Solomon and Martinez hit for two RBI's in the victory. CBC, Shortstop, Brandon Gonzales also knocked in an RBI during one of his plate appearances.
Coastal Bend led the series, two games to none over Blinn College heading into Saturday's doubleheader on April 23rd versus the Buccaneers. Game three against Blinn would be a heartbreaker for Coastal Bend, as they lost the lead late in an 8-7 defeat.
Following a scoreless first inning, the Bucs took charge in the second inning, breaking up the 0-0 ball game by scoring two runs. As the Cougars left runners on base for the second straight inning, they remained empty handed.
In the third inning Blinn crossed home plate twice to extend their lead, 4-0 over Coastal Bend. The Cougars would finally hang a crooked number on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Coastal Bend College scored five runs in the fourth inning. Garrett Whitaker, Keagan Solomon, and Damian Rodriguez all moved runners across the plate with RBIs in the inning. Solomon and Rodriguez hit long balls in the inning to help the Cougars take the lead, 5-4.Preston Allen took the loss for Coastal Bend College . The pitcher lasted seven innings, allowing ten hits and six runs while striking out five.
In the top of the seventh inning, Blinn College tied things up at five when the Bucs hit a solo homer. The Cougars failed to produce a run after getting runners on base in the Bottom of the seventh.
The game was tied at five with Blinn College batting in the top of the eighth when the Bucs scored three runs. CBC rallied for two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, but were unsuccessful on tying the game with a runner in scoring position. The Bucs would take game three by a final score of 8-7.
Coastal Bend socked two home runs on the day. Rodriguez had a dinger in the fourth inning. Solomon went yard in the fourth inning. The Cougars collected 12 hits in the loss. Rodriguez, Solomon, and Victor Armendariz each collected multiple hits for Coastal Bend College.
Aiming to take the series, Coastal Bend achieved just that in Game four. Needing to bounce back from game three, the Cougars responded well as they were victorious over Blinn College, 5-2.
Coastal Bend College got things started in the first inning when Eric Martinez singled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring two runs.
Cobe Reeves earned the victory on the pitcher's mound for Coastal Bend College . Reeves surrendered two runs on four hits over seven innings, striking out 12.
Coastal Bend College smacked one home run on the day. Keagan Solomon went deep in the sixth inning.
Solomon went two for four at the dish to lead Coastal Bend College in hits. Solomon and Martinez each had a game high, two RBI's. Selvin Anderson also hit an RBI for CBC. Second Baseman, David Lopez hit a Triple during a plate appearance.
The Cougars improve to 20-27 overall and 10-22 in conference play. A crucial three game series with Wharton County Junior College is in the balance for CBC to determine their postseason future.