MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Bluefield State (25-23-1 and No. 3 seed in the DII bracket) downed higher seed Savannah State (33-13 and No. 2 seed in NCAA DII bracket) 13-0 in the second upset and Game 3 of the Black College Baseball World Series presented by Tyson Foods at Riverwalk Park – home of the Class AA Montgomery Biscuits – Wednesday.
The contest broke an earlier pattern of well-pitched contests in the tourney as the teams scored 16 composite runs in the first six innings when SSU grabbed a 9-7 advantage. Then BSU tallied three runs in the top of the seventh to take a 10-9 advantage and then stretched it into the final margin.
Brantley Durham led the come-from-behind victory with a home run and four RBI and some sound plays afield. Josh Plisko (2-0), the third of three BSU pitchers, received the pitching verdict. BSU scored in each of the final five innings after falling behind 7-3 through four stanzas.
Savannah State, runnerup to Spring Hill for the league’s automatic NCAA bid in last week’s Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title tussle, had three hits and a trio of RBI from Jaden Oden. Tres Toledo (0-1) absorbed the mound setback in his sixth pitching appearance of the year.
The four-day tournament consists of double-elimination competition among NCAA Division II and NAIA teams in separate brackets for three days and a championship contest between bracket winners Saturday at 5 p.m. (CDT). The title game will be preceded by a special Black College Baseball World Series Presented by Tyson Foods Home Run Derby at 2 p.m. (CDT).
Wednesday games (all times CDT): Gm. 1 – Albany State 3, Edward Waters 2; Gm. 2 – Florida Memorial 7, Rust (Miss.) 4; Gm. G3 – Bluefield State 13, Savannah State 9; Gm. 4 – Wiley vs Paine (7:30 p.m.) (NAIA)
Thursday Schedule – Game 5 – 9 a.m.: Edward Waters vs. Savannah State; Game 6 – 12:30 p.m. – Rust vs. Loser of Game 4; Game 7 – 4 p.m. – Albany State vs. Bluefield State; Game 8 – 7:30 p.m. – Florida Memorial vs Winner of Game 4.
Friday’s Schedule – Game 9 – 9 a.m.: Winner of Game 5 vs Loser of Game 7; Game 10 – 12:30 p.m. – Winner of Game 6 vs Loser of Game 8; Game 11 – 4 p.m. – Winner of Game 7 vs Winner of Game 9; Game 12 – 7:30 p.m. – Winner of Game 8 vs Winner of Game 10.
Saturday Championship: 5 p.m. – bracket winners.