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Blinn takes down Florence-Darlington
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Ethan Gonzalez hadn't had a hit in Blinn College's two games of the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series.
That changed in a hurry for the Buccaneers' catcher, who crushed a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning Tuesday night to secure a 17-7 run-rule victory over Florence-Darlington.
The Bucs (44-16, 2-0 JUCO) didn't play their opening game until Sunday morning, then had Monday off in the quirky 10-team bracket, but showed right off the bat that they were rested and ready to play again, scoring six runs in the first inning. Cade Climie ripped a two-run home run to left after Tanner Reaves led off with a double. Tony Vernars added a two-run single and Reaves, in h is second at-bat of the inning with a two-run single.
Caden Ferraro led off the second with a home run for Blinn after Florence-Darlington (53-11, 2-1) put up two runs in the second.
The Stingers got right back in the game in the third, scoring five runs on three hits and one error. Ethan Plyler and Rom Kellis hit back-to-back doubles to get Flo-Dar rolling, cutting the lead to 8-7, but Blinn responded with two in the bottom of the inning on Ferraro's second home run of the game.
Three more runs came home in the fourth inning and four in the fifth to put the run rule in effect.
Connor McGinnis led off the fifth with a double, his third hit of the game — he hit a home run in the second and finished the game a triple shy of the cycle.
Blinn finished with 19 hits, and all but one starter hit safely in the game. Climie, Ferraro, McGinnis and Brandon Bishop each had three hits, Reaves, Climie and Ferraro drove in three runs apiece.
Brendan Sweeney got the victory with a six-hit, three-strikeout performance. Michael Gibson allowed eight runs on nine hits in the first inning for the loss.
Blinn plays Georgia Highlands at 7 p.m. Wednesday to move into the national semifinal game against Northwest Florida. Florence-Darlington takes on Southern Nevada at 2 p.m. Wednesday in an elimination game.
This article was first published here: https://jucogj.org/news/2024/5/29/juco-world-series-blinn-takes-down-florence-darlington.aspx