WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The High Point University baseball team fell to No. 16 Wake Forest on Tuesday night, 7-3.
Site: David F. Couch Ballpark
Score: High Point 3, Wake Forest 7
Records: High Point (7-14, 1-2), Wake Forest (14-6, 2-4)
Head Coach Joey Hammond: "Certainly some positives to come out of a game like that but it's hard to focus on that because you feel like we missed an opportunity to knock off a top 16 team on the road! Despite some miscues, we had the game where we wanted it in the 8th inning with bases loaded and our hottest hitter at the plate in a two run game. Details continue to be a problem for our club in these close games. Free bases, misplayed balls in the outfield, missed signs, the inability to execute critical pitches, and failure to win at bats with guys in scoring position and two outs make up more than the difference in this ballgame. We have a lot of decisions to make within our roster and look at different players for some roles and hope that can turn the corner for us.
Bryan Rivera got the call to start the Tuesday match with top-ranked Wake Forest. Rivera in his second start, pitched a career high four innings, allowing four runs, on five hits, striking out one batter.
The Deamon Deacons struck first in the bottom of the first as they had back-to-back solo home runs to put Wake Forest up 2-0.
High Point answered in the third inning as
Brayden Simpson sent a ball down the left field line scoring
Frank Kelly from second.
Wake Forest tallied two more runs in the bottom of the third off a two run double down the left field line.
In the seventh,
Eric Grintz came in to pinch hit for
Justin Ruiz as Grintz sent the first pitch he saw up the middle as two runners came home to score. High Point was down 4-3 after the top half of the seventh.
Wake went ahead and put up another run in the seventh off an RBI single as well as two runs in the eighth.
The Panthers were sent down quickly in the ninth to give Wake Forest a win on Tuesday night.
Up Next: High Point will welcome University of Richmond to Williard Stadium for a three game series this weekend. First game is Friday, March 22 at 6 p.m.
#GoHPU
