Blinn led twice during the ball game, grabbing a 2-1 lead in the top of the second and a 3-2 edge in the third, but Coastal Bend scored twice in its half of the third and put together a five-run fifth to pull ahead for good.
The Buccaneers pushed across single runs in the sixth and seventh frames.
Blinn finished with seven hits, led by a big day from second-year freshman Jett Garcia. The infielder smacked a solo home run and a triple, drove in one run, and scored twice. Freshman Luke Nail doubled and tripled, had two RBIs, and scored once. Freshmen Dave Wilson and Bo Rodgers also singled and scored for the Bucs.
Freshman Isaac Ponce took the loss in relief after allowing seven earned runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings of work.
The Buccaneers are now 7-19 overall and 3-9 in South Zone play.
Blinn continues its series against the Cougars with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at Fireman’s Park in Brenham.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
