Orangeburg, SC – Bluefield State University Baseball swept Claflin University 19-11, 21-18 and 6-1 over the weekend.
Game One
Tahraun Hammond led off game one with a double through the left field followed by a single from Peyton Lewis to advance the runner. A sacrifice fly from Chris Larkin brought the first run in of the night. In the second, Garret Hladilek led off with a double down the left field line and later moved to third. Thomas Williams collected the RBI, bringing Hladilek home. Caleb Roofe walked and later advanced to second on throwing error from the pitcher. Noah Moritz singled up the middle to extend the Big bLue lead 3-0. Hammond doubled up the middle to bring in one followed by a triple from Lewis to added another run.
In the third, back-to-back singles from Hladilek and Dillon Sullivan followed by a walk from Roofe loaded the bases for the Big Blue. Moritz drew a walk to bring in the sixth run for the Big Blue. The Big Blue brought in five runs in the fourth to pull away from the Panthers, 11-0. Larkin, Jean Carlos Diaz (double), Hladilek (triple), Sullivan (double) and Mortiz (double) each collected hits during the inning. The Panthers cut the Big Blue lead to five in the bottom of the inning. In the fifth, Jacob Trivette singled to shortstop and later advanced on a wild pitch. Hladilek reached on an error by the first baseman and Trivette scored to add one of for the Big Blue.
Brayden Merrick reached first on a throwing error by the Panthers shortstop to lead off the sixth. Back-to-back singles from Roofe and Moritz brought in Merrick. JonAlan Richardson grounded out to third, but brought Roofe home. Larkin singled up the middle to bring home Moritz. A single from Trivette and a walk from Hladilek loaded the bases and a single from Ty Sizemore brought home Trivette and Larkin to extend the Big Blue lead 17-6.
The Panthers added three in the bottom of the seventh, but the Big Blue added two in eight off of a single from Batten. In the bottom of the ninth, Claflin added one, but Tyson Mickie struck out the batter for the final out of the game.
Zach Powell started on the mound for the Big Blue throwing 3.1 innings, giving up six hits, six runs, three walks and struck out five. Braeden Major threw for 2.2 innings only giving up one hit, two walks and struck out six. Zane Eggleston, Will Austin and Tyson Mickie each pitched one inning.
Game Two
The Big Blue came away with 22 hits in game two with Lewis collecting four hits and Hammond and Hladilek having three. Going into the sixth with the 12-8 lead, the Big Blue extended their lead, bring home seven runs. Hammond, Lewis (double), Merrick (homerun), Diaz (single), Hladilek (single), Sizemore (double), Joseph Pilewski (single), and Korbin Bostic (single) each collected hits during the inning. The Panthers pulled within one in the bottom of the seventh, but a bunt from Bryce Hunt brought home two runs for the Big Blue in the top of the ninth to secure the 21-18 victory.
Kerry Collins started on the mound throwing four innings giving up four hits, seven runs, four walks, and struck out four. Hammond closed out the game on the mound throwing two innings, giving up one hit and struck out three.
Game Three
Claflin got on the board first in game three scoring one in the third inning. In the fifth, Sullivan got on base due to a Panthers error followed by Trivette being hit by the pitch and Bostic with a single to third base to load the bases. Lewis singled to left field to bring in two for the Big Blue followed by a walk from Larkin to load the bases. Diaz singled to bring in two more for the Big Blue and Hladilek singled to bring in the fifth run for the Big Blue. The Big Blue added one in the sixth off of a triple to center field to secure the 6-1 lead over Claflin.
Up Next
The Big Blue will host Wheeling University for their home opener Saturday, March 2nd at 7 p.m. followed by a double header on Sunday at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
