In 2023, under the guidance of Head Coach Drew Bailey, Bluefield State University Baseball set the wins record with 25 wins on the year.
The Big Blue made another appearance in the Black College world series marking their 3rd straight bid for a National Championship. Several records were broken on the year both as a team and individually. For the first time in program history, Bluefield State Baseball swept West Virginia State University. Tahir Meulens and Jordan Varela-Payne were both named to the ABCA All-Region team making them the first All-Region selections in BSU baseball history. Tahir Meulens set the single-season doubles record with 22 doubles. The Big Blue offense hit .298 and stole 106 bases (school record). The pitching staff set a single-season record with 381 strikeouts on the year and Junior Zach Powell set the single-season wins record with 7 wins.
For the first time in program history, Bluefield State Baseball had back-to-back 20-plus win seasons.
Off the field, Bailey continues his “Into the Real-World Series” where he brings in speakers to educate players on the importance of credit, financial responsibility, networking, and spark their interest on potential careers.
2022
The Big Blue set a school record with 22 wins on the year. The most ever in a single season in Bluefield State Baseball history. Several records were broken including the single-season home runs record, doubles, RBI’s, and the pitching staff set the single-season record for strikeouts.
Key wins for the program included wins over nationally ranked UNC- Pembroke as well as Shepherd University, and Concord University.
The Big Blue finished off the year with their second straight bid to the Black College World Series.
2020-2021
The 2020-2021 season marked the first year for Drew Bailey as the Head Baseball Coach at Bluefield State University.
In the 2020-21 season, the Big Blue finished 15-12 overall, marking their first winning season in school history. The season saw challenges due to COVID but it also saw victories. The Big Blue won the first Black College World Series by knocking off Xavier University of Louisiana in the championship game. This was the first championship in Bluefield State Baseball history.
The Christiansburg, Virginia native played for Kevin Garrett at Concord University from 2008-10 where he pitched his way to getting drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 35th round of the 2010 MLB First Year Player Draft. Bailey is 2nd in career saves and is tied for first in appearances with 59. Additionally, Bailey was a two-time All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) Second Team performer during his career. In 2017 Bailey was inducted to the Concord University Athletics Hall of Fame.
Bailey played two professional seasons for the Athletics’ organization where he posted a 5-0 record and had an ERA of 2.80 ERA. He racked up 48 strikeouts in 54 professional innings and limited opponents to a .216 batting average.
Bailey is married to Emma Bailey. Bailey has three children, Paxton; 9 years old, Reagan; 7 years old, Stella; 6 months old. Coach Bailey graduated from Concord University with his bachelors and obtained his MBA in 2021 from Bluefield University.
2014-2017 Pitching Coach Recruiting Coordinator Bluefield College
2017-2018- Head Baseball Coach Averett University
2020- Concord University Pitching Coach (Fall Semester only)
2021- present Head Baseball Coach Bluefield State University
