Bluefield State College 2021 Black College “Small School” World Series Champions.
The Big Blues defeated Xavier University of Louisiana to rightfully claim HBCU Baseball inaugural Black College World Series. The path to the Black College World Series crown was anything but smooth. After fighting through a tough season stretch and playing in a much needed HBCU national baseball tournament, this marks Bluefield State first-ever national title.
Bluefield State won the first Black College World Series, defeating Xavier 7-2 in the tournament championship game held in Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Ala.
In addition to winning the tournament championship, Bluefield State finished for the year with a winning record (25-12).
The inaugural double-elimination bracket featured eight Historically Black Colleges and Universities drawn from the NCAA Division II and NAIA ranks.
Division II representatives included Savannah State, Bluefield State, Kentucky State and Lane College The NAIA contingent included Xavier, Rust (Miss), Florida Memorial and Edward Water (Fla,).
Big Blues beat Edwards Waters 5-4 to open the tournament. A 4-1 victory versus Xavier in their second game served notice that the Big Blue was a contender for the tournament crown. The Gold Rush, the nation’s only Catholic HBCU, held the top seed in the bracket and boasted the tournament’s best record, finishing tournament play at 26-9.
In a showdown with Florida Memorial, a four-run rally in the sixth inning followed by a three-run burst in the seventh put the Big Blue ahead setting the stage for the championship meeting with Xavier.
The Gold Rush exploded at the plate in Game 1, shelling Bluefield State with 16 hits in a 16-2 rout.
In the winner take all championship game. The Big Blue scored six runs in the first inning of Game 2 and retained custody of the lead until the final out.