Two HBCU Baseball programs that compete in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA), the national governing body of small college intercollegiate athletic competition. Bluefield State College and Selma University baseball teams competed in last year’s USCAA World Series and will play in a two-game series – their first ever matchup in the schools’ history as play begins this weekend with Bluefield State at Selma game being played at Bloch Park in Selma, Alabama, Friday March 15.
Coming off of a two-game mid-week series split with Stillman College this week, the Big Blues baseball team (5-7) looks to keep things rolling as they have wins against Voorhees, Lincoln(PA) and Cleary University. Bluefield is starting to play some good ball as they will be getting into the meat of their schedule.
On the mound for Bluefield State, quality right handers Addison Meeks, Bayard Stevens, Michael Moyers, McKinley Webb and Carson Thigpen will see some action as either starters or out of the bullpen in the series. Bayard, in his last start defeating Stillman 8-2, threw 7.0 strong innings allowed six hits two runs one earned run to cross the plate as he struckout four batters.
Big Blue is set to start either righty Stevens (1-0) or lefty Austin Stambaugh, who had a good outing in his last start a 11-9 win on March 7th, against Cleary.
Bluefield State has been spliting their wins in their weekend series and in mid-week games they are currently 1-2, but look to overcome early season struggles.
On the offensive side, they don’t appear to have problems at the plate. The team sits at a .293 battling average. Heading into their weekend series against Selma, all of Big Blues offensive players had scored at least one run with infielder Peyton Durham carrying a big bat of late.
A Look at Selma….
The Bulldogs have been off to a hot start, with two loses for the season. Despite those losses, they are 5-2 and are ranked in Black College Nines HBCU Baseball Top 10 Poll at No. 6. and have been impressive at the plate, coming to the match-up, with a team batting average of .322 and the pitching staff has a 6.40 ERA.
Selma has some big bats. Tregrah Williams, 5th in the nation in the USCAA, leads the team with a .591 average (13 for 22) during the start of the season, followed by Alexander Humphrey at .435 (10-for-23), Marcus Hardy .409 (9 for 22) and Ricky Butts .400 (10 for 25). Hardy is tied for third in the USCAA statistical department in home runs with three and 12th in runs batted in with 12.
On the mound, starting pitcher Derrick Sylve, the grandson of former Pittsburg Pirates great Wiillie Stargell has been credited with three wins, cruising to a 2.75 earned run average and Reginal Vaughn is 2-1.
This will be the first time that these two squads have battled. This will be a good away game for Bluefield State then they play at Tuskegee on Saturday March 16.
Selma head coach Andrian Holloway stated “This is an important matchup for us because they are a USCAA opponent and World Series participant as well. This game will give us a glimpse of what the World Series will bring.”
Selma appears to be headed for their 9th straight post season playoff appearance. Seven in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) before joining the USCAA in 2018. Bluefield has been in back to back USCAA World Series in 2017 and 2018.
The game will air live on Black College Nines Live Events Page. The first pitch is set for 11 am CST, 12 pm EST .