HIGH POINT, N.C. –
Brayden Simpson knocked in four runs tonight as the High Point University baseball team defeat Presbyterian College, 13-3, on Friday night.
Site: Williard Stadium
Score: High Point 13, Presbyterian 3
Records: High Point (20-18, 9-4), Presbyterian (19-19, 10-3)
Head Coach Joey Hammond: "I can't think of a better way to start off a big series. This may have been one of the best all-around games we have played this year. Especially considering the levity of giving up two early homers in the first inning. Knowing they got a guy on the mound that has yet to lose a game all year. I was so proud of our guys responding offensively. Peyton (Carr) was big as he sent a big homer over the wall to calm everything down and reset the game. Then, Gus (Hughes) controlled the game for the rest of the way, and I was really proud of him. I can't say enough good things about how our offense stacked at bats and cashed in opportunities that we got."
Gus Hughes has become the Friday starter for the Purple and White and it really showed tonight. Hughes went up against a red hot Blue Hose offense but settled down and sat them down. Hughes finished strong throwing seven innings, allowing three runs, on four hits, striking out seven batters.
Presbyterian got off to a hot start with back-to-back home runs in the top of the first to put them out front 2-0.
Once again, HPU answered right away and tied it up just like that as
Peyton Carr sent a ball 403 feet to left field to make it a new ball game at 2-2.
Eric Grintz followed up with Carr's homer as he hit one of his own in the second inning to lift the Panthers in front, 3-2.
The game was brought back to 3-3 in the third as Presbyterian doubled down the left field line bringing home a runner.
It was all High Point moving forward as Hughes was shutting them out and the Panther offense kept rolling. In the fourth, HPU tallied three more runs as Simpson tattooed a ball that went over the right center fence to bring it to a 6-3 game.
The Panthers knocked out their ace in the sixth inning. Daniel Eagen only had given up seven runs prior to this start. The Panthers put up seven runs on him in one night on just three hits.
The sixth inning brought home five more runners for High Point. It started with another RBI for Simpson as he drove in a runner off a single up the middle.
Frank Kelly then reached on a fielding error and advanced to second, but
Miggy Echazarreta crossed the plate.
Konni Durschlag joined the parade as he singled through the left side bringing home HPU's 10
th run of the night. It did not end there;
Cael Chatham also sent a single through the infield as Durschlag came home to score the fifth run of the inning. High Point held a commanding 11-3 lead over the Blue Hose.
In the seventh, Echazarreta drove in the 12
th run of the night as he singled to left center, advancing on the throw, and scoring
Adam Stuart.
http://
Tyler Romanias relieved Hughes as he came in to finish it off on the mound for HPU.
The scoring was not done just yet, Carr sent one through the left side bringing home Kelly to secure a series opening win on Friday night.
Up Next: The Panthers return to the diamond tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. for game two.
#GoHPU
