HIGH POINT.C. – The High Point University baseball team kicked off opening weekend in grand slam fashion. The Panthers hosted Bryant University on Friday afternoon in their first game of the season, walking off with the 6-2 win in the bottom of the 10
th inning from
Blake Sutton's grand slam hit over left center field.
Site: Williard Stadium
Score: High Point 6, Bryant 2
Records: High Point (1-0, 0-0), Bryant (0-1, 0-0)
Panther Particulars
HPU's
Sam Garcia was hot from the mound to start the game, bringing heat through the first two innings, racking up the Panthers first six outs with six strikeouts.
Getting the first hits of the night for the Panthers,
Javon Fields singled to right field from the lead off slot while transfer graduate student,
Cael Chatham found the gap one inning later for his first hit in a High Point jersey.
In the top of the fourth inning, Bryant placed runners in scoring position with a ground rule double from a hit that bounced over the wall. With runners on second and third, the Bulldogs striked first with a sacrifice fly to put the first run on the board.
Bryant struck again in the top of the fifth after loading the bases from two back-to-back walks and a single. Another sacrifice fly scored Bryant's second run to put the Bulldogs up 2-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Panthers kicked it into gear with Chatham's second hit of the night followed by
Xavier Cumbee's stand-up double. With runner's on second and third, HPU put their first run on the board after the Bulldogs wild pitch into the dirt to bring Chatham home.
Through the next two innings,
Patrick Libby and
Sean Duffy came in on the mound as relievers, holding the Bulldogs scoreless to combine for four strikeouts.
Chatham added to his perfect 2-for-2 debut with a single home run in his third at bat to tie the game at two all in the bottom of the seventh.
Everett Vaughan came in to pitch in the top of the ninth and stayed on the mound through the remainder of the game.
Still tied in the bottom of the ninth, the Bulldogs managed to steal the third out on Fields line drive shot to the first baseman, sending the game into extra innings.
Getting a quick three up three down in the top of the 10
th, the put the pressure on the Bulldogs defense. Two walks and a single from Chatham loaded the bases with one out and Sutton at the plate. Taking a smack to left center field, Sutton sailed it over the fence for a walk-off grand slam to start the season
Up Next: The Panthers and Bulldogs continue the weekend series tomorrow afternoon, Saturday February 18th, with a 2 p.m. first pitch.
#GoHPU
