The Buccaneers dropped to 11-5 overall and 1-1 in the South Zone.
The tight ballgame was played less than 48 hours after the two teams combined for 37 runs in a wild 22-15 come-from-behind for the Bucs on Tuesday in Brenham, Texas.
This time around, Alvin needed a two-out, walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to top Blinn.ย ย
“We knew going into today we were going to get their best shot after winning the opener the way we did,” Bucs head coach Dusty Hart said. “Alvin did a pretty good job of controlling us. We had multiple opportunities to get some big hits and put some pressure on them, but we didn’t do a very good job offensively. We left some guys on base in key moments and that hurt us.”
The Dolphins built a 2-0 lead with solo runs in the second and third frames before Blinn got going in the fourth. Sophomoreย Tate Bethelย walked with the bases loaded to make it 2-1.
In the top of the seventh, freshmanย Luke Smithย doubled with one out before crossing the plate on freshmanย Marshall Lipsey‘s two-out single.
The Bucs finished with eight hits, with sophomoreย Ian Collierย enjoying a 3-for-4 day at the plate, including a double. Freshmanย Shane Martinย had two hits.
On the mound, freshmanย Shane Connellย made his first collegiate start and lasted 4 1/3 innings. He allowed two earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts and three walks. Freshman relief pitcherย Cody Pfefferย fanned seven in 4 1/3 frames of relief. He gave up an earned run on three hits with a walk. Bethel came on with two outs in the ninth and surrendered the game-winning hit.
Blinn will finish its region set with Alvin when the two teams play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
