MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Defending champion Edward Waters (25-23) stayed alive in an elimination contest against fellow Southern Intercollegiate Athletic conference member Savannah State (33-14) with a 9-5 victory in Game 5 of the Black College Baseball World Series presented by Tyson Foods at Riverwalk Park – home of the Class AA Montgomery Biscuits – Thursday.

EWU’s Ferante Cowart smacked three hits and drove in a run in his first three trips to the plate to help Edward Waters take a 8-0 lean through five innings. Teammates Anthony Roman and Erickson Matos chipped in two hits each and had three RBI each. Pitcher Alexander Davila (8-4) went the distance (third complete game outing by pitchers in the tourney), struck out 10 and walked four while allowing four earned runs. 

Savannah State closed its season with its second loss of the series. The SSU Tigers got a pair of hits and RBI from slugger Jaden Oden while starting pitcher Enrico Peele lost for just the second time in 14 decisions. The All-America candidate righthander entered the series with the top pitching record of any hurlers at 12-1 and a 2.37 ERA. 

The four-day tournament consists of double-elimination competition among NCAA Division II and NAIA teams in separate brackets for three days and a championship contest between bracket winners Saturday at 5 p.m. (CDT). The title game will be preceded by a special Black College Baseball World Series Presented by Tyson Foods Home Run Derby at 2 p.m. (CDT).  

Thursday games (all times CDT) – Game 5 – Edward Waters 9, Savannah State 5; Game 6 – 12:30 p.m. – Rust vs. Wiley; Game 7 – 4 p.m. – Albany State vs. Bluefield State; Game 8 – 7:30 p.m. – Florida Memorial vs Paine.  

Friday’s Schedule – Game 9 – 9 a.m.: Winner of Game 5 vs Loser of Game 7; Game 10 – 12:30 p.m. – Winner of Game 6 vs Loser of Game 8; Game 11 – 4 p.m. – Winner of Game 7 vs Winner of Game 9; Game 12 – 7:30 p.m. – Winner of Game 8 vs Winner of Game 10.  

Saturday Championship: 5 p.m. – bracket winners.