HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point University baseball team closed out the weekend series with a seventh inning run-rule win over the Leopards of Lafayette. The 15-3 win was led by multiple Panthers at the plate while
Gus Hughes took care of business on the mound.
A record setting, 15 strikeouts from Hughes, set a new single game program record in his seven innings of pitching.
Blake Sutton set a new single-season career-high best with his home run over right center field in the bottom of the fifth, tagging his seventh (2021-22, 5 home runs) home run of the season.
Site: Williard Stadium
Score: High Point 15, Lafayette 3
Records: High Point (5-6), Lafayette (3-9)
Joey Hammond: I'm excited and happy about today's game, you know
Gus Hughes, can't say enough good things about that. He comes out in a seven-inning game and strikes out 15 guys… I can't say enough good things about our offense, with the exception of Friday night, these last three games have been really really good. Our young guys have done a really good job as well and I'm really proud of them."
The Leopards quickly went up 2-0 in the first inning after a single up the middle allowed for both runners on to score.
In the Panthers first at bat, High Point dominated with two outs.
Cael Chatham's fourth home run of the series set the scene for the rest of the inning. Four walks and a hit by pitch contributed to two more runs for the Panthers to make it 3-3.
After a pitching change from Lafayette,
Brayden Simpson ripped one into center field. A bobble from the Leopards center fielder paved way for three runs to score, taking the 6-3 lead.
Two more singles in the bottom of the first added two more runs for the Panthers after batting all the way around.
Both teams recorded a run in the third inning before High Point would unload again in the bottom of the fourth.
An RBI double for
Javon Fields started the four-run stretch for the Panthers, as
Jack Pokorak, Simpson and
Xavier Cumbee followed up with RBI singles.
With the 13-3 lead for High Point, Sutton capped off the day with a two-run homer over right center field in the bottom of the fifth.
Hughes finished the game allowing only one hit from the Leopards in the final two innings, striking out four of the last seven batters.
Up Next: Panthers remain home on Tuesday afternoon for a matchup with the Davidson Wildcats, at 4:00 p.m. at Williard Stadium.
#GoHPU
