Montgomery, AL—Bluefield State University baseball defeated SIAC Champion Edward Waters in the Black College World Series Opening Round on Wednesday, 9-7.

Both teams went scoreless through the first two innings, but a single from Tahraun Hammond scored Noah Moritz to take the 1-0 lead in the third. The Big Blue extended their lead 5-0 in the fourth. Chris Larkin led off with a single and was later moved to second after Garett Hladilek was hit by the pitch. A walk for Joseph Pilewski loaded the bases, and another walk later in the inning for Moritz brought in one for the Big Blue. Back-to-back singles for Hammond and Peyton Lewis brought three for the Big Blue.

In the fifth, Larkin hit a lead-off homerun to center field, extending the Big Blue lead to six. Later in the inning, Moritz singled to center, bringing one across the plate, 7-0. A single from Jean Carlos Diaz brought in the eight-run for the Big Blue in the sixth, but Edward Waters began to fight back, scoring three in the seventh. Pilewski singled through the left side, moved to second on a sac bunt from Korbin Bostic, and moved to third on a wild pitch. Moritz picked up the RBI to bring Pilewski home, 9-3.

The Tigers attempted the ninth-inning rally, but the Big Blue defense stepped up to secure the victory 9-7.

Zach Powell earned his ninth win of the season, pitching 6.2 innings, giving up five hits, three runs, three walks, and striking out three. Braeden Major closed out the game with 2.1 innings, giving up six hits, four runs, and striking out two.