The fourth-ranked Blinn College baseball team came up short in a battle of ranked teams Friday as the Buccaneers fell to No. 11 McLennan Community College 5-4 in Waco, Texas.
Blinn is now 4-5 overall after dropping the opener of its three-game series with the Highlanders.
It was all McLennan early as the hosts raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. The Bucs cut into their deficit when sophomore Brandon Bishop smacked a two-run, line-drive double to left field in the top of the fourth, but the Highlanders scored two more runs in the home half of the frame to keep their distance.
A balk and a wild pitch charged to McLennan allowed a pair of Blinn runs to cross the plate in the top of the sixth frame. The Bucs had the tying run on second base in the top of the ninth, but a strikeout ended their rally.
Blinn finished the game with nine hits, including two apiece for Bishop and sophomore Marshall Lipsey.
Sophomore pitcher Kaden Dydalewicz absorbed the loss after surrendering five earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts and three walks in 3 1/3 innings of work.
The series between the Bucs and Highlanders continues with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18, at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham, Texas.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 45 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
