The High Point University baseball team recorded their first shutout of the season against College of Charleston on Friday evening. The Panthers got seven innings of work on the mound from starter Carter Sheppard (1-1) while Sam Garcia earned the first save of his career. HPU moves to 2-8 on the season while the Cougars dropped to 7-2. 

Site: Williard Stadium (High Point, N.C.)
Score: High Point 5, College of Charleston 0
Records: High Point (2-8, 0-0), College of Charleston (7-2, 0-0)

Head coach Joey Hammond: "Obviously a big-time win. Anytime you can come out against a really good team that's been swinging it, and they've been really hot, on a Friday night and you throw a shutout, I mean you don't expect that on a Friday night. Carter Sheppard was amazing. He came out and he set the tempo, he pitched aggressive with three pitches in the zone all night long. Again I keep reiterating that that's a really good team over there. And to get on top, I think we stack some really good at bats there in the second inning to get us a lead, and then Shep took it from there. Then obviously (Sam) Garcia comes in and slams the door and does kind of what we expect him to do. And again the best part about this is we won a game we feel really good about against a really good team, but there were still some opportunities that we could have done more and they're teachable moments. In a win I think tends to be received a little bit more from our players, we're tired of the teachable moments after losses. It's good to have a teachable moment after a win, especially on a Friday night, and Carter and our entire pitching staff, as well as coach Miller deserves a lot of credit. He called an unbelievable game and kept those guys off balance. We're going to need to turn the page and come back tomorrow ready to go."

Panther Particulars
The HPU battery was electric in the top of the first, as Sheppard recorded two strikeouts and catcher Blake Sutton threw out a runner trying to steal second base. Sheppard also forced three straight ground outs in the second to keep the Cougars off the board. 
 

GOT HIM!@blakesutton10 picks off the base runner stealing second!#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/Cth27fHpdu

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) March 4, 2022

The Panthers used a three-run second inning as HPU capitalized on timely hits and Cougar errors. Peyton Carr led off the inning with a single to left center before Cole Singsank singled to the shortstop. With a throwing error, Carr advanced to third base to put runners on the corners with no outs. 
 

PANTHERS STRIKE FIRST!@PeytonCarr11 crosses home plate on a wild pitch!#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/lmp56bBN05

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) March 4, 2022

Carr scored on a wild pitch that allowed Singsank to take third base before scoring on another wild pitch. Adam Stuart walked to put another runner on base for HPU. A pop up kept Stuart at first with one out as Josh Deslauriers came to bat. Deslauriers singled to the third baseman, and on an errant throw took second base while Stuart advanced to third. 

Jackson Melton continued putting pressure on the defense as he singled up the middle, scoring Stuart and moving Deslauriers to third to give HPU another one-out, runners on the corners scenario. However, the Panthers grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the threat but held a 3-0 lead heading into the third. 
 

Melton drives in another!

Panthers take a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second!#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/Rho14g3E05

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) March 4, 2022

The Cougars had two runners reach base on walks in the top of the third, but HPU's defense composed a 4-6-3 double play before Sheppard forced the pop out to end the inning.
 

4-6-3- for 2?#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/8RVShuVagu

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) March 4, 2022

Both teams would trade zeros until the Cougars threatened again in the top of the eighth. After a single from the visitors, the Panther defense used a fielder's choice to get the runner at second that resulted in a runner on first with one out. On the next play, a ground ball was hit to shortstop Stuart who was able to combine with Melton and Singsank for the 6-4-3 double play. 
 

Panthers close out the top of the eighth inning with a 6-4-3 double play!#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/CgkU9e6Hgt

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) March 4, 2022

The Panthers used the momentum to turn around and score two more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. Javon Fields was hit by a pitch while pinch hitter Sam Zayicek drew a walk, advancing Fields. Cameron Lee ran for Zayicek before the Cougars made a pitching change. Sutton used an RBI-single down the right field line on a 2-0 count to score Fields and move Lee to third base. Carr tallied his first RBI of the night on a ground out to the pitcher that scored Lee.
 

Sutton extends the Panther lead to 4-0!@blakesutton10 #GoHPU pic.twitter.com/UqEurbn7dI

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) March 4, 2022

With a 5-0 cushion, Garcia rallied after giving up a two-out double and walk to record his third strikeout of the inning and combine with Sheppard for the shutout. 

PANTHERS WIN!#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/nP5MneTmBr

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) March 4, 2022

Up Next: High Point continues their weekend series tomorrow (Saturday, March 5th) with College of Charleston. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Williard Stadium.