The Blinn College softball team battled until the very last out, but ultimately fell just short in a Region XIV Tournament elimination game Saturday in Bossier City, La.
The Buccaneers dropped a 9-8 decision to San Jacinto College-South in the consolation bracket to conclude their season.
Blinn ended its season with a 28-22 overall record.
"It's very disappointing, but we played two well-fought games in this tournament," Buccaneers head coach Rick Church said. "We're proud of the way our team competed down the stretch, and we came in here and competed to the utmost of our ability."
After falling to Bossier Parish Junior College in a tight 3-2 ballgame in the first-round Friday, Blinn faced Region XIV South Zone rival San Jacinto on Saturday with its season on the line.
The Buccaneers fell behind 5-0 heading into the home half of the third inning but got their bats going to make it a ballgame.
Freshman Erynne Castillo singled home sophomore Madeline Stephenson to put Blinn on the board, and freshman Haley Rust later scored on an error to make it 5-2.
In the bottom of the fourth, sophomore Caitlyn Stevens blasted a two-run home run to center field to make it 5-4.
The Raves scored three more in the sixth, but sophomore Skylar Shanahan kept the Bucs going with a solo home run in the home half of the frame.
After San Jacinto tallied its last run in the top of the seventh to make it 9-5.
Blinn staged one more rally in the seventh, beginning with a two-run homer for freshman Alyssa Boozy. Sophomore Emily Kristynik then stepped to the plate and added a solo shot to left-center to pull her team within one. Stevens then drew a walk, but Shanahan just missed what would have been a game-winning home run when she flew out to deep left field to end the game.
"They fought, so that's what we're most proud of," Church added. "There were three or four times during this game where we could've packed it in mentally, but we kept fighting. It wasn't with a win, but they battled."
Castillo and Kristynik finished with two hits apiece.
Freshman pitcher Peyton Welker started the game for the Bucs but was relieved after allowing four earned runs in the top of the first. Sophomore Chloee Mason took over with no outs in the first and worked six innings. She allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts and three walks. She tossed 108 pitches less than 24 hours after tossing 139 in an eight-inning effort against Bossier Parish.
"Chloee pitched her heart out for us," added Church.
Shanahan and freshman Sydnie Cline also made appearances in the circle for Blinn.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 43 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
