Though there were some tense moments in the late innings, Bluefield State baseball overcame a one run 4-3 seventh-inning deficit with a two run inning to win the opening game of the inaugural Black College World Series on Wednesday afternoon at Riverwalk Stadium with the first pitch recorded at 12:01 pm.
The game was an historic event in crowning an HBCU baseball national champion on the field.
Bluefield State led 3-0 heading to the bottom of the third inning, but with a one run fourth and three more in the fifth propelled Edward Waters to a one run 4-3 lead. However, Bluefield’s hits erased the Tigers lead and put Big Blue ahead 5-4 to close out the game.
At the plate for Big Blue, Junior McRee was 2-for-4, Tanner Brandon 1-for-3, Ty Sizemore 2-for-3. Kenrick Mendez went 3.2 innings on the mound.
Edward Waters’ Ricardo Santana was 2-for-3 and his single produced a run batted in. Payton Shubert was 3-for-4 with a triple and a run scored.