Bluefield, WV – Bluefield State University baseball completed the season sweep over West Virginia State University for the first time in history after a single game 9-8 victory on Wednesday.
The Yellow Jackets jumped out to an early lead, scoring three in the first. The Yellow Jackets added another in the fourth, but the Big Blue cut the lead to two in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, Cam Lowke drew a walk and later scored after a single by Tahir Meulens to left field plus extra bases after an error by the Yellow Jackets. Jordan Varela-Payne brought in Meulens with a single to left center.
The Big Blue bats came alive in the fifth, bringing three runs across the plate. Dillion Sullivan lead off with a double through the left side followed by Curtis Ball who was hit by the pitch. Both Sullivan and Ball advanced on a passed ball and Sullivan later scored on a wild pitch. A walk from Brantley Durham put runners on the corners for the Big Blue with a sacrifice fly from Garret Hladilek to bring home Ball to tie the score 4-4. Later in the inning Eric Green moved the runner to third with a sac bunt. The Big Blue took their first lead of the night after Durham scored on a wild pitch. The Yellow Jackets tied the score in the sixth, but in the bottom of the inning the Big Blue took back the lead after a singled-up middle from Sullivan scored Varela-Payne.
The Yellow Jackets brought one across the plate in the seventh, but the Big Blue answered with three in the bottom of the inning to extend their lead. Green singled to center field followed by back-to-back singles through the left side from Lowke and Meulens to score Green. Cole Cote singled through the right side to bring in one and Sullivan closed out the scoring for the Big Blue after a single to score Meulens.
The Yellow Jackets scored two in the eighth to pull within one, but strong performances from relieve pitchers Kerry Collins and Aiden Hedgepeth helped secure the 9-8 victory over West Virginia State University.
"I am so incredibly proud of the way our guys have battled all year. Especially after hitting a tough stretch in March," said head coach Drew Bailey. "These guys never quit and I think we are starting to show people that we can play a high level of baseball at times. Beating West Virginia State twice in a season is a major accomplishment for our program. All the credit through goes to our guys. They're the ones that are out on that field making plays."
Conner Elliott secured the win on the mound for the Big Blue throwing three innings, giving up four hits, two runs and one walk. Hedgepeth earned the save, facing four and only giving up one hit in the ninth.
Up Next
The Big Blue close out the season with seven road games starting with a single game Thursday, April 20th against Morris College at 6 p.m.
