BUCKHANNON – On a blustery afternoon at Hank Ellis Field, the scoreboard barely kept up with the action as West Virginia Wesleyan powered past Bluefield State in a wild, offense-heavy contest that ended in a 22–12 win for the Bobcats.
In a game that featured 34 total runs, 24 hits, 17 walks, 11 errors, and a staggering 62 batters faced by Bluefield State pitchers alone, both dugouts saw plenty of action in what felt more like a heavyweight brawl than a baseball game.
The Bobcats wasted no time jumping on Bluefield State starter Will Austin, scoring three runs in the first inning and never looking back. The Bobcats would go on to score in every inning but the fifth and ninth, including an 8-run eruption in the third that effectively buried Bluefield State early.
Sophomore utility man Kohei Fujishita led the offensive charge, going 2-for-3 with four RBIs, a walk, and a stolen base. Ethan Fraley was equally dangerous from the leadoff spot, delivering a 3-for-7 performance with three RBIs and two runs scored. Nearly every Wesleyan hitter reached base, with six players tallying multi-hit efforts and seven driving in at least one run.
Wesleyan’s offensive onslaught was helped by six Bluefield hit batters, four Bobcat stolen bases, and seven Big Blue errors that turned would-be outs into extended innings.
Bluefield State showed plenty of fight, particularly in the middle innings. Designated hitter Nick Diaz was a bright spot, going 1-for-3 with four RBIs and two walks. Leadoff man Anderson Moreno reached base four times and drove in a pair, while shortstop Kevin Rodriguez tripled, scored three runs, and swiped two bags.
Despite scoring in six of nine innings, Bluefield couldn’t overcome its defensive struggles and lack of pitching control. The Big Blue walked 10, hit six batters, and went through five pitchers. Austin took the loss, charged with 12 runs (8 earned) in just 2.2 innings.
The Bobcats, despite their own struggles with control—issuing 13 walks—kept Bluefield largely in check thanks to strong relief efforts from the bullpen. Ethan Boisvert earned the win with two clean innings to start the game, while Grant Swift closed the door with 2.1 innings of one-run ball to stop a potential late rally.
The Bobcats stay home for a weekend of doubleheaders as the team takes on Frostburg State University on Saturday, Mar. 29 and then the Falcons of Fairmont State University visit Sunday. Both twin bills start at 1 p.m.
