TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The High Point University baseball played in game two of the weekend series with No. 20 Alabama on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers jumped out on an early 6-0 lead with the Crimson Tide but a spark in Alabama's offense led to a 6-10 loss for HPU.
The three home runs were all blasted over the left field fence, by
Javon Fields,
Adam Stuart, and
Xavier Cumbee.
Site: Sewell-Thomas Stadium
Score: High Point 6, No. 20 Alabama 10
Records: High Point (3-3), No. 20 Alabama (7-0)
The first two innings moved by quickly with just two hits from Alabama. Opening the third inning, the Panthers unloaded at the plate.
Charlie Klingler started it off with a double down the right field line.
Cole Singsank followed up Klingler's at bat with a single to left center field, scoring High Points first run.
Patrick Matthews laid down a bunt and reached first on an error by the first basemen, helping Singsank advance to third. With runners on second and third, Fields blasted a hit over the left field wall for a three-run homer.
Up 4-0 with two outs,
Adam Stuart sent another one over the left field wall to add another run to the Panthers score. The bats were not done yet,
Xavier Cumbee jacked HPU's third home run of the inning over left center field to extend the Panthers lead to 6-0.
High Point held the 6-0 lead through the first half of the fifth inning until the Crimson Tide found a spark. Scoring two with
Brett Wozniak still on the. Mound, the Panthers brought in
Patrick Libby to pitch on the hill.
With two outs and runners on the corners, a walk loaded the bases. Alabama's hit to second base scored two more runs for the Crimson Tide, making it 6-4, HPU.
Alabama's Dominic Tamez found the sweet spot and sent a ball over the left center field wall, bringing in three more runs for the Crimson Tide to take a 7-6 lead over the Panthers.
In the next three and a half innings, High Point went cold at the plate, only getting two hits to Alabama's four.
The Panthers trailed by one run up until the bottom of the eighth. The Crimson Tide managed to rock another three-run homer, this time to right center field with two outs left.
Going down 10-6, the Panthers were unable to close the gap in their last at bat, falling short in game two of the series.
Up Next: The Panthers and Bulldogs continue the weekend series tomorrow afternoon, Saturday February 18th, with a 2 p.m. first pitch.
#GoHPU
