HIGH POINT, N.C. –
Gus Hughes earned his third win on the mound as the High Point University baseball team defeat Richmond, 5-3, in game one on Friday afternoon.
Site: Williard Stadium
Score: High Point 5, Richmond 3
Records: High Point (8-14, 1-2), Richmond (9-12, 0-0)
Head Coach Joey Hammond: "We needed that; I am really proud of Gus (Hughes). Thought he was fantastic right from the beginning. That is what we need to start a series off and that's what we expect from him. To get us seven innings makes a huge difference for the whole weekend…
Noah Carter also came up big for us in the eighth inning minimizing their opportunities. It sort of got away from us in the ninth but that is where Cael (Chatham) comes in and cleans it up for us. We are really proud of our guys on the mound today, they did a fantastic job."
Hughes got the nod for a Friday start as he went out and shoved seven clean innings. Only allowing one run, on four hits, and striking out nine batters.
The Panthers got on the board first to give Hughes a bit of a cushion in the third.
Konni Durschlag earned another RBI as he singled to second base scoring
Frank Kelly for the first run of the day. HPU scored another in the fourth as
Brayden Simpson launched one off the right field wall for a double bringing home
Charlie Klingler from second.
High Point jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the sixth after
Miggy Echazarreta laid down a perfect bunt allowing
Adam Stuart to cross the plate.
Richmond got on the board in the seventh off a single to left field.
HPU answered right away with another run as Stuart doubled to right field scoring Durschlag.
Dawson Harman stepped up to the plate in the eighth as he blasted his second home run of the season over the right center wall.
Noah Carter came in to pitch the eighth as he worked his way out of a jam with two runners on.
Richmond tallied two runs in the top of the ninth before Chatham came in to close it out on the mound.
High Point took game one of the three game series against Richmond, 5-3.
Up Next: Game two of the three game series will be played tomorrow Saturday, March 23 at 4 p.m.
#GoHPU
