Bluefield, WV – Bluefield State University fell to Salem Univesrity in game one 8-4, but bounced back to take game two 4-2 at Bowen Field on Wedensday.
The Tigers jumped out to an early lead in game one, scoring five in the third inning. After three consecutive singles from Brantley Durham, Dillon Sullivan and Cole Cote, the Big Blue brought their first run across the plate in the fourth. The Tigers added another in the fifth, but the Big Blue answered with three in the bottom of the inning. Sam Walker led off the inning with a double to left center followed by a double from Curtis Ball down the right field line to bring in one. After a change on the mound for the Tigers, Ball scored on a wild pitch with Cam Lowke later scoring on a wild pitch to pull the Big Blue within two. The Tigers added two in the top of the seventh to pull away from the Big Blue to take the 8-4 victory.
The Tigers struck first in game two scoring one in the third, but the Big Blue evened the score in the fourth. Tahir Meulens led off the fourth with a single to left field followed by a sacrifice bunt from Jordan Varela-Payne to move Meulens to second and later score after a single to left field from Sullivan. The Big Blue took their first lead of the afternoon after adding two in the bottom of the fifth. Eric Green moved to third after leading off the inning getting hit by the pitch and later advancing after an error by the Tigers. With runners on second and third, Hladilek singled to add two. The Big Blue added to that lead after a homerun over left field from Sullivan in the sixth. The Tigers added one in the seventh, but the Big Blue held off the rally to secure the 4-2 victory over Salem University.
Riley Bost went the distance for the Big Blue, throwing a complete game, giving up seven hits, two runs and striking out nine.
Up Next
The Big Blue will travel to Virginia State University for a weekend series with two games on Saturday, April 1st and two on Sunday.
