BLUEFIELD, Va. -- An 11-run first inning propelled the Bluefield College baseball team to a 12-9 win over Ohio State University at Lima on Monday evening, as the Rams opened their series against the Barons with a win. Bluefield closed its day going 1-1, as it finished its Appalachian Athletic Conference series with Union earlier in the day.

The Rams move to 10-8 with the win, while the Barons are 0-5.

Bluefield hammered out nine hits and benefitted from several Barons errors in the opening frame to score 11 runs. Chris McCollister logged his third homer of the season in the inning, while Garrett Schilling, Sawyer McLamb, Ryan Lawson, Jacob Schober and Tyler Timmer all added RBIs in the inning.

After a rough first inning, Lima's Austin Cobb settled in and tossed four innings for the game. Tyler Blumentritt finished off the game for the Barons, working four innings himself and allowing just one Bluefield run, when McCollister scored on a first-and-third double steal in the eighth.

Lima faced a large deficit but slowly chipped away.The Barons scored a pair in the second and one more in the third, before plating three runs in the seventh. They tacked on three more in the ninth, and even had the tying run on base. But, Dylan Ruth provided a strikeout to close the game and seal the win.

Chaz Miller earned the win, working three innings of relief after Zach Tapia threw three frames to start the game. 

The teams square off again on Tuesday, being scheduled for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.