Font Size: A A A

Bluefield opened its 2013 baseball season in chilly South Carolina on Friday afternoon.

Trey Wilson

February 1, 2013

CENTRAL, S.C. -- Bluefield opened its 2013 baseball season in chilly South Carolina on Friday afternoon, but they never got the offense warmed up. 

The Rams (0-1) lost on the road to Southern Wesleyan, 5-2. 

The Warriors (1-0) opened up the scoring in bottom of the third inning when Stephen Wyatt hit a two-RBI triple into the gap in left-centerfield off of Bluefield's Sean Williams. Julio Lara brought in Wyatt with a sacrifice fly on the next at-bat to put Southern Wesleyan up 3-0.

The Rams loaded the bases in the fourth and seventh innings, but could not cash in with any runs. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Wyatt came up with runners on second and third and hit a two-RBI single off of Bluefield pitcher Anthony Garza, pushing the lead to 5-0.

The Rams got on the board in the top of the eighth thanks to some heads-up baserunning by Jacob Wright, who scored when a pick-off throw was bobbled by Wyatt at first base. 

In the top of the ninth, Will Simpson reached on a one-out single. After a Zack Russell-Myers strikeout, Chris Rosa singled to left-centerfield. Wright singled on the next at-bat to bring in Simpson and cut the deficit to 5-2. 

In the next at-bat, Tyler Lundgren came to the plate representing the potential tying run, but grounded out to second base to end the game. 

Williams pitched five innings for Bluefield, giving up six hits, two walks, and three earned runs while striking out six. He was relieved by Garza, who pitched two innings and gave up two earned runs on two hits while striking out three batters. Taylor Marshall pitched an inning of scoreless relief. 

Wright went 2-5 with one RBI in his Bluefield debut.

Bluefield will play two more games against Southern Wesleyan on Saturday at noon and 2 p.m.

Russell-Myers will be starting on the mound for the Rams in the first game. Justin Lykins will get the call for game two. Both games will be seven innings. 

Comments: