Bluefield State Athletics
Southern Division Leading West Virignina Wesleyan Win Conference Series over Big Blues
BUCHANNON, W. Va. – The Southern Division leading West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats swept the Bluefield State baseball team in a WVIAC doubleheader Saturday at Hank Ellis Field. The Bobcats scored six first-inning runs in game one en route to a 9-4 win and came-from behind to win the finale 7-6 to complete the conference series sweep. The Bobcats blanked the Big Blues 6-0 in the series opener on Friday.
The Big Blues (6-21, 2-13 WVIAC) took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning highlighted by a two-RBI double from Travis Thompson.
The Bluefield State lead would not last long as the Bobcats belted out six runs in the bottom half of the inning, three coming from a Gene Franks homer.
The Big Blues pulled within two in the third on a SAC fly from Brady Guimond but Wesleyan put the game out of reach in the bottom of the third scoring on an illegal pitch and a fielding error to extend their lead to 8-4. They tacked their final run in the sixth for the 9-4 victory.
Richard Kestner earned the loss after giving up six runs in a third of an inning pitched.
In the nightcap, Bluefield State spotted the Bobcats four runs in the initial four innings but cut their deficit by two in the top of the fifth thanks to a RBI single from Guimond and a SAC RBI from Thompson.
In the top of the seventh, the Big Blues offense banged out four runs to take the lead 6-4. Guimond got the rally going with a RBI to drive in Jon Neuberger. Jordan Dreaeger drove in two runs and Kyle Blocker recorded a ground out RBI to cap off BSC’s four runs.
However with two outs the Bobcats clawed their way back and tied the game on a two-run double down the right line from Matt Edwards. The next batter was intentionally walked bringing up Tom Brunswick to the plate, who hit a walk-off single to left center to drive in Edwards and to take the game.
Chris Rabe came away with the loss, giving up three runs in 1.1 relief innings.
The Big Blues bats were lively in the doubleheader totaling 22 hits for the day led by Guimond who went 4-for-7 with three RBI’s on the day. Draeger and Rusty Rainey totaled three hits for the day.
BSC’s schedule doesn’t get any easier as they travel to nationally-ranked no. 17 Seton Hill University (Pa.) for a Tuesday doubleheader.
