HIGH POINT, N.C. - Cael Chatham sends the Panthers home with a win as the High Point University baseball team walked it off against Radford in game one, 2-1.

Site: Williard Stadium
Score: High Point 2, Radford 1
Records: High Point (12-14, 2-2), Radford (9-15, 2-2)

Head Coach Joey Hammond: "A fantastic baseball game. It's what season openers are supposed to look like at a really high level. We got two pitchers out there battling their guts out and making pitches throughout the game. We knew it was going to take one play, one pitch, one swing, because neither side was going to give in. It's a lot of fun and it's really good for our team to be involved in games like that. You learn a lot and you build in that scenario and Gus Hughes was fantastic. I can't recall a time in which we've won a 2-1 ballgame, especially a night with the winds blowing out. It was a fantastic job by Hughes and Noah Carter coming in to get the job done. Just fantastic all the way through."

Gus Hughes once again shined on the mound as he posted eight innings, allowing one run, on four hits, striking out six batters. Noah Carter relieved Hughes as Carter pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth to send the Panthers up to plate to win it. Carter would end up earning his first win as a Panther. 

STUNNED 'EM ??

T8:
RU-1
HPU-1#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/lDTFbPavhA

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) March 29, 2024

Both starting pitchers were getting outs the first three innings as zero's were put on the board for both squads. In the fourth, Chatham lifted one over the wall in left field to put HPU up 1-0. 

6?? launched it out to left field for the first run of the game! ??

B4:
RU-0
HPU-1`#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/Lk7ioYqJst

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) March 28, 2024

Hughes continued to shove but the Highlanders got one on him as Radford hit a solo homer in the sixth to tie it at 1-1. 

Neither team was able to really get on base and produce runs. For High Point, Miggy Echazarreta had three walks and three stolen bases tonight. His third walk and stolen base set up Chatham in the bottom of the ninth to go ahead and win it. Chatham with two outs, lined the first pitch he saw down the left field corner allowing Echazarreta to score as the Panthers won it in the bottom of the ninth, 2-1. 

CAEL. CHATHAM. WALK OFF!!!!! #GoHPU pic.twitter.com/71lUuxQSSR

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) March 29, 2024

Up Next: High Point will play its second game of the series tomorrow as first pitch it set for 4 p.m.