BLUEFIELD, W.Va. — The Carolina University Bruins wrapped up their final regular season series on Sunday after Saturday's scheduled doubleheader was postponed due to rain, shifting both games to April 26 at Bowen Field. Carolina split momentum across the two contests, securing a narrow victory in game one before dropping a high-scoring finale. The Bruins now turn their focus to the CAC Conference Tournament, where they enter as the No. 5 seed and will face No. 4 seed Simpson University.
"This weekend showed both our resilience and areas we need to clean up heading into postseason play," said Associate Head Coach Logan Conklin. "We competed hard, especially in tight moments, and now it's about putting together a complete performance in the tournament."
Game One: Carolina 7, Bluefield State 6
Carolina edged out Bluefield State in a tightly contested opener, using a six-run surge across the middle innings to take control.
The Bruins broke through in the fourth inning with three runs, highlighted by sacrifice flies from Andres Hoyos and Jase Brooks before Ty Vespe added an RBI single. Leland Brown extended the lead with a solo home run in the fifth, and Carolina added three more runs in the sixth to build a 7-3 advantage.
Bluefield State rallied late, scoring three runs across the sixth and seventh innings, but the Bruins bullpen held firm. Landon Johnson recorded the final out to secure the save.
Game One Notes:
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Leland Brown: 2-for-2, HR, 2 runs, RBI
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Ty Vespe: 2 hits, RBI
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Andres Hoyos: RBI, sacrifice fly
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Jase Brooks: RBI, sacrifice fly
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Pitching: Cameron Gribble (W, 5-2) allowed 4 runs (2 earned) over 5.2 innings
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Landon Johnson: Save (1)
Carolina totaled eight hits and drew seven walks while overcoming five defensive errors in the win.
Game Two: Bluefield State 11, Carolina 10
The Bruins' offense exploded for 10 runs on 14 hits in game two, but an early deficit proved too much to overcome in a one-run loss.
Ty Vespe led the charge with a standout performance, going 4-for-5 with four RBIs and two doubles. Carolina plated four runs in the second inning to cut into an early 5-1 deficit, then continued to chip away with multi-run innings in the fourth and fifth.
Despite closing the gap to 11-10 in the sixth inning, Carolina was unable to complete the comeback, leaving runners on base in the final frame.
Game Two Notes:
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Ty Vespe: 4-for-5, 4 RBIs, 4 runs, 2 doubles
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Daniel Isbell: 3 hits, 2 RBIs
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Nathan Wesley: 2 hits, 2 RBIs
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Carolina offense: 14 hits, 10 runs
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Pitching: Paxton Tucker allowed 9 runs (7 earned) in 2.0 innings
The Bruins' offensive output was their highest of the series, but early defensive miscues and pitching struggles proved costly.
Up Next
Carolina University now shifts its attention to the CAC Conference Tournament. The Bruins will enter as the No. 5 seed and face No. 4 seed Simpson University in opening round action on Wednesday April 29, 2026 for 11:00am first pitch at Georgia Gwinnett, as they look to extend their season.
