The Buccaneers led 2-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Highlanders rallied for four runs before tacking on one more in the seventh.
Blinn pitcher Colten Drake was the pitcher of record, absorbing the loss despite a solid outing. He allowed three earned runs on three hits with five strikeouts and three walks in five-plus innings of work. McLennan got to relief pitchers Jake Olson and Gage Boehm for the insurance runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth frames.
“I thought Colten Drake was outstanding from an execution standpoint and got us off to a great start through the fifth inning,” Blinn head coach Harvey Mcintyre said. “Then, Gage Boehm gave us a shot and kept us in the game with a good seventh and eighth inning. We just didn’t help ourselves offensively with the opportunities we had.”
The Buccaneers put runners at both first and third base with no outs several times throughout the ballgame, but were unable to cash in on the scoring opportunities.
Freshmen Chase Arnaud and Cash Callahan each scored for Blinn. Freshman Cole Smajstrla led the Bucs with a pair of hits.
Blinn is now 2-8 overall.
The Buccaneers and Highlanders will face off at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at Fireman’s Park in Brenham.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
