INSTITUTE, W.VA. – West Virginia State Baseball returned to Cal Bailey Field Wednesday, trumping Bluefield State College 3-1 in a dreary matinee matchup.
WVSU improves to 5-2 on the season while Bluefield State drops to 6-14 on the year.
Seniors Michael Stone and Dylan Ball were the only multi-hit performers on the afternoon, each tallying two hits. Graduate student Matthew Kline tripled, and the Yellow Jackets displayed their bullpen, using seven different pitchers on the afternoon.
Sophomore Tyrus Baumgardner picked up the first win of his collegiate career, tossing one inning of relief, using just 12 pitches and striking out two. Senior Foster Conis earned his first save of the year, hurling a 1-2-3 ninth. Senior Jeremy Graley got the start, and the combined bullpen allowed just one hit through the remaining 7.1 innings.
The Yellow Jackets struck early, plating two runs in the first which proved essential in Wednesday's contest.
Andrew Stone reached on a fielder's choice, then came home on a triple from classmate Matthew Kline. Kline came home the next at bat on a groundout from junior Trey Junkins, giving State an early 2-0 lead.
The Big Blues cut the lead in half the following frame, taking advantage of a wild pitch and a pair of singles, but State regained a two-run lead after senior Brett Christian reached via error and scored on a single from Ball.
UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets remain at home this weekend, welcoming PSAC stalwarts Slippery Rock for a three-game series beginning Friday at 2 p.m. Live stats and video will be available.
