Montgomery, AL – Bluefield State University baseball took down Savannah State University 13-9 in the opening round of the Black College World Series on Wednesday.
After both teams going scoreless in the first, the Big Blue got on the board in the second. Dillon Sullivan led off with a walk and later advanced to third after a single from Garret Hladilek. Both runners advanced one base after a balk from the Tigers. Eric Green moved Hladilek to third after a bunt single. Hladilek added another for the Big Blue after scoring on a wild pitch. The Tigers answered with five in the bottom of the inning to take the 5-2 lead.
Both teams added one in the third and fourth, through a homerun by Hladilek, to go into the fifth with the Tigers on top, 7-4.
Sullivan and Curtis Ball led off the sixth with back-to-back singles to the outfield. Brantley Durham tied it at seven after a homerun over left field. The Tigers scored two in the bottom of the inning to take back the lead, 7-9.
The Big Blue fought back, scoring three in the seventh to take the lead. Jordan Varela-Payne lead off with a single through the left side and then a stolen base. Sullivan singled down the left field line to advance the runner to third. Ball singled on a bunt to bring in one for the Big Blue. Pinch runner Erik Romero stole third and come home on a wild throw from the Savannah State catcher to even the score at 9. Durham flew out to deep center field to bring in Ball to take the lead 10-9.
The Big Blue added one in the eighth, after Cole Cote doubled to right field to bring in a run, and two in the ninth, after a single from Cam Lowke brought in two, to secure the 13-9 victory over Savannah State.
Up Next
The Big Blue will take on Albany State in the Semifinals Thursday, May 11th at 4 p.m. CST / 5 p.m. EST.
