The Highlassies (9-1) won the first game 12-1 in five innings before earning a 14-0, five-inning victory to complete the sweep.

Blinn fell to 2-6 overall. 

In the opener, Blinn cut into a four-run deficit with a second-inning tally, but McLennan tacked on seven runs in the top of the fourth frame and one more in the fifth to complete the run-rule win.

Freshman pitcher Chloee Mason took the loss for the Buccaneers. Only four of the Highlassies’ 12 runs were earned. Blinn finished with two hits.

In game two, McLennan scored seven runs in the first inning and hit four straight home runs to build a lead that Blinn could not overcome. The Highlassies finished with six homers for the game.

Buccaneer freshman pitcher Kailey Eldridge started for Blinn and took the loss. The Buccaneers totaled four hits.

“When you’re playing a team like McLennan, you have to be near-perfect,” Blinn head coach Rick Church said. “Nobody’s perfect, but your pitching, your hitting … you’ve got to be on with everything. One run in two games isn’t going to cut it on offense, and we’re going to have to beat this kind of pitching to get out of regionals and have a shot to go far in the playoffs. You’ve got to be able to get to these pitchers that we didn’t today. 

“The good news is we’ve got another chance tomorrow against McLennan.”

The Buccaneers travel to Waco on Saturday, Feb. 19, for a twin bill against the Highlassies beginning at 1 p.m. 

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.

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