The No. 22-ranked Blinn College softball team came up short in a pair of tightly contested games against San Jacinto College-South during a Region 14 South doubleheader Monday at Hohlt Park in Brenham.
Blinn fell 9-7 in the opener and 14-12 in the second game, as San Jacinto-South completed the sweep with two late comebacks.
The losses move the Buccaneers to 28-16 overall and 12-8 in Region 14 South play. Blinn currently holds the fourth and final qualifying spot for the Region 14 Tournament. San Jacinto-South improved its position at the top of the division standings.
Blinn has four regular-season games remaining, all against South Division opponents, as the team looks to secure its postseason spot.
In Game 1, the Buccaneers erased an early 3-0 deficit and built a 6-4 lead heading into the seventh inning. San Jacinto-South responded with a five-run surge in the top of the inning to take control. Blinn added a run in the bottom half but could not complete the comeback.
Blinn recorded 14 hits in the opener. Londyn Holland led the offense with three hits, including a double, while Lexis Moss added two hits and two RBIs. Kacie Dudensing and Brianna Moreno each contributed two hits.
Madisyn Bracknell took the loss in relief after entering in the seventh inning. Brynn Gallamore started the game and went the distance without factoring into the decision.
In Game 2, Blinn jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning before San Jacinto-South answered. After falling behind 5-3, the Buccaneers responded with four runs to regain the lead, but the Ravens tied the game in the fourth and broke it open with a five-run fifth inning.
Blinn continued to battle, scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth to pull within one run, but San Jacinto-South added two more in the sixth to maintain the lead. The Buccaneers plated one run in the sixth to close out the scoring.
Blinn finished with 13 hits in the second game. Holland again led the lineup with three hits, while Cadence Wiese recorded two doubles. Moss and Halle Scheel each added two hits.
Wiese and Annie Beckendorf drove in three runs apiece, while Moss and Skylar Flanagan each recorded two RBIs.
Jamison Wlos started in the circle and pitched four innings. Bracknell entered in the fifth inning and was charged with the loss.
Blinn returns to action Saturday with a Region 14 South doubleheader against Lamar State College-Port Arthur in Port Arthur.
Blinn College has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and has won 53 national championships since 1987.
