Albany State beats Edward Waters in Black College World Series

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Albany State Golden Rams will play Bluefield State College next n the second round of the Black College World Series after beating Edward Waters of Jacksonville 3-2 Wednesday morning.

Bluefield State, of Bluefield, West Virginia, advanced by beating Savannah State 13-9.

In Wednesday morning’s game, Albany State third baseman Austin Roberts smacked a single to left with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 2-2 tie and give the Rams a 3-2 lead. Zane Ross, who led off the inning with a single, scored the winning run.

Right fielder Quintard Wright, a freshman, and former Terrell Academy star, tied the game in the sixth with a single to right that scored shortstop Hill Corley.

Calvin Baker, a freshman from Sharpsburg, pitched six strong innings to start the game. He gave up eight hits and two runs, but the win on the mound went to Luke Addison who pitched two innings in relief. Addison didn’t give up any hits or runs. Lefty John Luegering pitched a 1-2-3 perfect inning to earn a save on the mound.

The Black College World Series, sponsored by Tyson Foods, is being played in Montgomery, Alabama at Riverwalk Stadium — the home of the Tampa Bay Rays Double-A affiliate.

The Black College World Series, in its third year, includes eight HBCU baseball programs, four from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and four from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) are competing. The Golden Rams were named the top seed in the Division II bracket. The format for the event that heads into its third year is two divisions, one bracket of four NCAA Division II teams and one bracket of four NAIA teams, playing a double-elimination format, and winners of each division face off in a one-game playoff to determine a champion.

For more on the Black College World Series click: https://blackcollegechampionships.com/2023/04/26/black-college-championships-announce-field-of-eight-whos-in-the-black-college-world-series/

Joe Whitfield