BLUEFIELD -- Bluefield State Baseball closed out the regular season Tuesday afternoon with a split two-game series against Shepherd University at Bowen Field. 

Game 1:

The Big Blue took an early lead after a sac fly by Cole Cote that brought in Jordan Varela-Payne. The Rams answered back in the top of the second after Daniel Keer scored on a passed ball to tie the game. 

Brayden Merrick would have an RBI single in the second inning to score Taylor Tibbs. The Rams would go on to score 20 runs throughout the third and seventh innings to take a 21-2 lead over the Big Blue. 

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Big Blue tried to make a historic comeback with an RBI single by Tyler Fenwick that plated Barrett Crawford. A batter later Erik Romero would drive in Trae Fowler on a sac fly and Austin Stambaugh doubled to center to drive in Fenwick, closing out the game with a final score of 21-5.

Game 2:

Jordan Varela-Payne got the Big Blue on the board after a leadoff home run, 1-0. In the top of the second, the Rams responded with a two-run home run of their own, giving them a 2-1 lead. 

In the bottom half of the inning, the Big Blue tied the game after an RBI double by Brayden Merrick, bringing Taylor Tibbs. The Big Blue added four runs in the fifth after an RBI double by Ty Sizemore, a two-RBI double by Roman Moore, and an error allowed Varela-Payne to score giving them a 6-1 lead. 

The Big Blue added another run in the sixth inning after an RBI single by Cole Cote, which brought in Cj Cooper to take a 7-2 lead. The Rams would score their final run in the seventh on an RBI single to make it a 7-3 game. 

Up Next...

The Big Blue will travel to Montgomary, AL Tuesday, May 10 to defend their championship title at the HBCU World Series. The Big Blue (3) will face Miles College (2) Wedenesday, May 11. 

The first pitch is set for 5:00 p.m. (CT).