TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The High Point University baseball team traveled to Tuscaloosa, Alabama for a weekend series with No. 20 Alabama. In game one of the series, the Panthers hung with the Crimson Tide until the eighth inning after a three run homer from Alabama pushed their lead to five, resulting in the 9-4 win over HPU.
Site: Sewell-Thomas Stadium
Score: High Point 4, No. 20 Alabama 9
Records: High Point (3-2), No. 20 Alabama (6-0)
Head Coach Joey Hammond: " We had a real opportunity to win a game on the road vs a top 20 team tonight and just came up short on a few really important routine moments. I felt we grounded at bats and had chances all night but credit Bama for answering every inning after we scored. We allowed 6 runs on a combination of walks, a misplayed pop up and a routine ground ball. Those are plays we have to make, and I believe our guys will do so. There are no consolation prizes for losing a game, but our guys will walk away knowing we can control the things that cost us the game tonight."
In the top half of the first inning, High Point put one on the board early.
Cael Chatham's single to center field advanced
Trenton Pallas to second base after getting on with a walk.
Adam Stuart knocked one right to Alabama's first baseman but a bobble in his glove allowed Pallas to score and Stuart to beat out the tag.
Answering back, the Crimson Tide took a shot into right center field to round a runner on second base home, tying the game at 1-1.
In Alabama's next at bat, Mac Guscette smacked one over the left field fence for a single run homer to take to 2-1 lead.
In the top of the fourth, the Crimson Tide pitching staff gave up two walks and two hit batters to give HPU their first run of the inning. With bases loaded, Pallas sent a slow chopper over the pitcher, giving him enough time to trek down the first baseline and beat out the throw. Advancing all three runners one base,
Blake Sutton scored to make it 3-2 Panthers.
Alabama answered again, blasting one deep over the left field wall for a two-run homer to take the lead back, 4-3. The Crimson Tide extended their lead to three in the bottom of the sixth to make 6-3.
In the seventh inning, Pallas hit a double to left field to put the panthers in scoring position. A sac fly from Chatham moved Pallas over to third. Stuart followed up with a dropped a shot into right center field before Alabama's right fielder could get to it, sending Pallas home to add a run to HPU's score.
After keeping it close through seven innings, the Crimson Tide opened the game up with a three-run homer to go up 9-4 over the Panthers.
In High Point's final at bats, the team was unable to bring in a run for the Panthers, resulting in the 9-4 loss for game one of the series
Up Next: The Panthers and Crimson Tide will play game two of the series, Saturday, February 25th at 5:00 p.m.
#GoHPU
