Site: Jacksonville, FL. (Sessions Stadium)
Score: Jacksonville 6, High Point 3
W: Tyler Vogel (1-0), L: Teddy Merritt (0-1)
Records: JU 1-0 (0-0 Atlantic Sun), HPU 0-1 (0-0 Big South)
Next HPU Event: Saturday, February 19 -- at Jacksonville (Jacksonville, FL.), 2 p.m.
 
Jacksonville, FL., -- The High Point University baseball team dropped the season opener 6-3 at Jacksonville University on Friday night (Feb. 18). Sam Zayicek, Blake Sutton and Cole Singsank all recorded an RBI for the Panthers. 
 
Head Coach Joey Hammond: "I thought our guys came out and had good energy and fight all night long. It's a baseball game, their starter was really good. All the guys that ran out there executed pitches and made it difficult for us. We didn't make adjustments offensively like we're capable of early on, but it was great to see fight and a chance to tie the game up in the eighth inning. You know, it's a baseball game. One big hit that their guy gets, wasn't a bad pitch that Reid (Viar) threw, they guy just got a big hit. We had an opportunity the half before that with the right guys up and we couldn't execute, and that's the way baseball works sometimes. There's going to be games like this. Like I told our guys, we come here and we get to play at least 55 more of these, and if we come with that type of energy and that kind of fight, with the way we threw the ball tonight, I'll take our chances, especially with our offense to be able to rebound. And we've got a good opportunity to do so tomorrow."
 
Panther Particulars
 
The Dolphins struck first, scoring the opening run of the game in the bottom of the third inning. 

Defensive battle here early in Jacksonville#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/4w8tUlkzqj

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) February 19, 2022

 
Jacksonville extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth off of a double, which brought the score to 3-0.
 
Cole Singsank recorded the first hit of the night for the Panthers with a lead off double in the top of the fifth inning. 
 
Sam Zayicek scored Singsank off of an RBI single to cut the Dolphin lead to 3-1. 
 
Cameron Lee hit the second double of the inning for the Panthers to advance Zayicek to third base. 
 
The rally continued for the Panthers with a bases-loaded walk for Blake Sutton to score Zayicek and bring the score to 3-2. 

Looking to finish strong#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/YgINbzQMte

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) February 19, 2022

 
Teddy Merritt gets the Panthers out of a jam with a flip to Sutton on a slow roller in front of home plate. Jackson Melton followed up that play as he fielded a high chopper and stepped on second to hold the Dolphins scoreless with the bases loaded. 
 
The pitching duel continued to the top of the 8th until Peyton Carr broke through for the Panthers with a single to left field which allowed Sutton to score to tie the game at three.
 
A strong eighth inning put the Dolphins ahead 6-3 which stood to be the difference.

 

Battled until the end.#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/zk0o1SYuYJ

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) February 19, 2022