The extra-inning setback sends the Buccaneers to the consolation bracket, where they will attempt to battle their way back for a berth in the NJCAA Division I Softball Championship tournament.
“It was a great battle,” Buccaneers head coach Rick Church said. “We played well and jumped on them early, but you’re going to have a great team like Bossier come back and battle you. We can’t let this disappointment defeat us tomorrow. We have to let that drive us through the loser’s bracket.”
Blinn will face San Jacinto College-South at noon on Saturday, May 13. The winner will advance to the next round of consolation play, while the loser’s season will come to a close.
Blinn (28-21) scored both of its runs in the top of the fourth inning on a home run from sophomore Emily Kristynik, her ninth of the season. Bossier (43-14) answered with two runs in the home half of the sixth.
Kristynik and sophomore Madeline Stephenson finished with two hits apiece.
In the pitcher’s circle, sophomore Chloee Mason went eight strong innings for the Bucs. She allowed three earned runs on four hits with four walks and seven strikeouts, totaling 139 pitches.
The Cavaliers got to Blinn sophomore relief pitcher Skylar Shanahan with one out in the ninth, scoring the winning run on an RBI single from Debra Tofi.
“Everything is on the line now,” Church added. “We’re going to have to battle just like we did today. The toughest team mentally is going to win tomorrow.”
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 43 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
