The Buccaneers (1-5) are now 1-1 in the tournament ahead of its finale against Howard College at 10 a.m. on Sunday, also at Nutrabolt Stadium.
Blinn played Grayson closely through 6 1/2 innings and trailed just 3-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh, but the Vikings broke loose for eight runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Freshman pitcher Colten Drake started for the Buccaneers, giving his team what head coach Harvey McIntyre called “an extremely competitive start,” but Grayson got to the Blinn bullpen in the final inning.
“We found a way to get back in it and make it a 3-2 baseball game,” McIntyre said, “but we can’t win with one or two guys per game on the mound. We will keep running guys out of the bullpen until we find the right guys who can attack the strike zone and give us a chance with some zeroes (on the scoreboard).”
Blinn finished with four hits and scored both its runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Freshman Liam Koleci and Tripp Cromer scored for the Bucs.
Following the conclusion of tournament play, Blinn will hit the road for a Region XIV doubleheader against Angelina College beginning at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 15, in Lufkin, Texas.
Blinn will face region foe Lee College on the road at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
