The 10th-ranked Blinn College baseball team dropped a tough 8-7 decision to Region XIV South Zone foe Alvin Community College on Thursday at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham, Texas.
The Buccaneers fell to 27-9 overall and 14-5 in the South Zone standings.
"Bad things happen when you don't show up and play hard," Blinn head coach Dusty Hart said. "You have to do what the game asks you to do, it's that simple. We can't think that we're too good to show up and play hard and play the game the right way. You've got to play good baseball if you want to win baseball games — period."
The Buccaneers trailed 4-0 heading into the fourth frame and 6-2 entering the bottom of the sixth but staged a five-run rally to take a 7-6 lead.
(Pictured: Blinn freshman Jake Kolkhorst slides into third base for a triple during a game against Alvin on March 30)
A two-run home run from sophomore Cam Wheeler that cleared the left-field scoreboard tied the game before freshman Brandon Bishop slapped an RBI single to push the hosts ahead.
Blinn finished with 10 hits, led by a 3-for-3 day from freshman Jake Kolkhorst. The right fielder also walked, drove in two runs and scored twice. Freshmen Tanner Reaves and Tate Bethel had two hits apiece, with Bethel smacking a solo home run during a two-run fourth frame. Wheeler finished with three RBIs.
"It was good to see they had a little fight in them," Hart added. "... but at the end of the day, we had multiple opportunities to make a play, make a pitch, or get a hit and we didn't. Tip your cap to Alvin because they came to our yard and took it to us. At the end of the day, they were better than us today."
Alvin pulled ahead for good with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh.
(Pictured: Blinn freshman Shane Connell delivers a pitch during a game against Alvin on March 30)
The Dolphins touched up Blinn starting pitcher Shane Connell for four runs (all earned) on six hits across four frames. Connell struck out six and walked two.
Freshman Blane Zeplin took the loss after allowing four earned runs in 2 1/3 innings of relief. Freshman Hunter Bond worked the final 2 2/3 frames.
The Bucs conclude their season series with Alvin at noon on Saturday, April 1, in Alvin, Texas.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
