LUFKIN, Texas — No. 17 Blinn College softball was eliminated from the 2019 NJCAA Region XIV Softball Tournament after falling to San Jacinto College-South, 4-3, in the fourth round at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on Wednesday night.
Earlier in the day, the Buccaneers defeated Bossier Parish, 4-2, to eliminate the Lady Cavaliers. With the season-ending loss, the Buccaneers finish with a 44-15 overall record and a fourth-place finish in the Region XIV Tournament.
"We had a fantastic record-setting conference season and ended the season with a good overall record, but we just came up a little short," said Rick Church, Blinn head coach. "I don't think I have ever had a bunch play together the way this team did this season. All 21 girls played together as a unit and I give them a lot of credit for that."
Blinn 4 – Bossier Parish 2
Blinn used a three-run sixth inning to edge out Bossier Parish, 4-2, in the third round of the tournament.
Morris earned the win after tossing a complete game and only surrendering two runs.
Amber Langston went 2-for-3 to lead the offense with two RBIs, while Sarah Cedillo followed with one RBI and Tori Alvarez Lopez scored two runs.
Alvarez-Lopez kicked things off for the Buccaneers in the opening inning with a double and scored on Langston's single for Blinn to take an early 1-0 lead.
The Buccaneers scored three runs in the sixth inning to extend their lead to 4-0. Kelsey Lowke and Mayela Fernandez each singled to start things off and later scored on a passed and groundout, respectively. Langston once again brought Alvarez-Lopez home on a single for Blinn's final run.
Bossier Parish chipped away at Blinn's lead by scoring one run in each of the sixth and seventh innings, but it wasn't enough for the Lady Cavaliers to come back.
San Jacinto 4 – Blinn 3
The Buccaneers fell just short of a rally in late innings as they fell to San Jacinto, 4-3.
Morris gave the Buccaneers a chance to win with a solid pitching effort, only surrendering three earned runs on four hits in six innings.
Courtney Ogle led Blinn's offense with her third two-run homer in the postseason, while Maria Garcia hit a solo shot over the fence. Bailey Zibelin also led the Buccaneers with two hits and two walks for one run.
San Jacinto took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, but by the top of the fourth the game was even again when Garcia launched a solo home run.
The game didn't stay tied long as the Coyotes scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-1 lead.
The Buccaneers started to rally in the sixth inning when Zibelin doubled and Ogle followed with a two-run shot for Blinn to gain on San Jacinto, 4-3.
In the final inning, Kimber Cortemelia and Zibelin each drew walks, but were left stranded.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 41 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
