Bluefield State ended its three game losing streak with a walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth inning to win on Monday by the score of 4-3 versus the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Alfredo Carrion, who was inserted into the game in the six inning to play right field hit a two-out RBI single through the right side for the game-winning run.
Carrion banged a pitch he saw in the bottom of the ninth inning and smashed it to the outfield for the win. Big Blue came back from a three-run hole to beat UNC Pembroke.
Carrion would collect one run batted in on the day while batting 1-for-4, Ty Sizemore was 2-for-4 with a run batted in, Jarred Simpson was 1-4 with a run batted in, Brayden Merrick was 2-for-4, CJ Copper went 1-for-3, and Ethan Wilkins was 1-for-4 in the game.
Both teams struggled to plate runs. Bluefield State’s Zane Eggleston took to the mound and held UNC Pembroke in check until the top of the third inning when the Braves took a 1-0 lead on back-to-back doubles. They added another run in the top of the fifth for a 2-0 lead.
Bluefield State finally got on the scoreboard on three straight singles by Cooper, Sizemore, and Wilkins cut the deficit to 2-1.
UNC Pembroke thought they had an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning for a 3-1 lead.
Big Blue would respond in the bottom half of the inning with three runs. Jordan Varela-Payne singled up the middle, Jarred Simpson doubled down the right field line, Varela-Payne scored. Austin Stambaugh pinch ran for Simpson. Cooper’s sacrifice bunt moved Stambaugh to third. Sizemore singled to center field, Stambaugh scored. JR McRee pinch ran for Sizemore. Merrick singled to center field and McRee advanced to third. Carrion’s hit brought McRee in to score the come from behind walk-off win.
Starter Zane Eggleston pitching two innings, surrendering three runs on six hits and four strikeouts. Zach Powell (1-0) threw one inning, allowed one hits and one strikeout in relief for the win.
The victory improved the Big Blues’ record to 5-6.