Bluefield, WV – Bluefield State University baseball took down Virginia State University 17-1, 13-9, and 10-5 over the weekend.
Game One
The Trojans got on the board to take the early 1-0 lead, but the Big Blue answered in the bottom of the inning to take the 6-1 lead. Tahraun Hammond got on base due to a Trojan error and was later moved to third. Chris Larkin singled to center field to bring one across the plate for the Big Blue. After Garett Hladilek was hit by the pitch, Jacob Trivette singled to third base to bring in one to take the 2-1 lead. Three bases loaded walks for Korbin Bostic, Noah Moritz, and Hammond extended the Big Blue lead, 5-1. Peyton Lewis singled to shortstop to push the Big Blue lead 6-1 to close out the first.
A sacrifice fly from Bostic in the second extended the Big Blue lead 7-1. Both teams went scoreless the next two innings, but a lead off single for Moritz in the fifth sparked a six-run inning for the Big Blue. Hammond and Jean Carlos Diaz collected singled with Hladilek hitting a three-run homerun over left field.
Moritz, Hammond, and Lewis led off the sixth with walks followed by a double to left center field by Larkin to bring in two for the Big Blue. With two on base, Hladilek doubled to collect two RBIs to secure the 17-1 victory.
Braeden Major earned the win on the mound, throwing six innings giving up three hits, one run and struck out five. Kerry Collins closed out the final inning, striking out one.
Game Two
Both teams went scoreless in the first, but a two-run homerun for Trivette in the second put the Big Blue ahead 2-0. The Trojans added one in the third and one in the fourth to cut the Big Blue lead to one. The Big Blue offense began to pull away in the fifth after back-to-back singles from Hammond and Lewis and a single from Tahir Meulens to bring home Hammond. Later in the inning, Diaz doubled to right field to bring home two. Meulens brought in the final run of the inning with a single through the left side, 12-2.
Going into the seventh with the 13-2 lead, the Trojans would score seven but a final out strikeout from Colton Roberts would halt the Trojans.
Zach Powell moved to 7-3 on the year on the mound, throwing six innings giving up six hits, three walks and struck out four. Drake Mullins and Colton Roberts closed out the seventh inning coming away with one strike out apiece.
Game Three
Going into the third down 3-2, Big Blue Lewis drew the lead off walk with Meulens being hit by the pitch. A Larkin homerun gave the Big Blue the 5-3 lead. The Big Blue added five more runs in the in the third to extend their lead 10-3. The Trojans added one in the sixth and and another in the seventh, but couldn't over come the Big Blue, 10-4.
Alex Kanipe secured the win on the mound throwing five innings giving up four hits, three runs, three walks and six strikeouts. Conner Elliott and Tahraun Hammond threw one inning each with both allowing one hit, one run and struck out one.
Next Up
The Big Blue will host West Virginia Wesleyan College Wednesday, April 24th with the first pitch for game one at 1 p.m.
