MACON, Ga. – The High Point University baseball team defeated the Mercer Bears in the final game of its two-game series, 6-4, on Sunday afternoon.
Site: OrthoGeorgia Park
Score: High Point 6, Mercer 4
Records: High Point (9-3), Mercer (9-3)
Head Coach Joey Hammond: "Really proud of the guys. That is a gigantic win for us, a perfect time for us to play our brand of baseball. I felt like we played tough and played it with energy. We made big pitches when we had to and made big plays in the field when we needed to. I'm glad to get back to it, we kind of got away from it for a couple of days. Our guys responded to my challenge. I thought Dalton (Hitt) was fantastic finding out he was starting 30 minutes before the game. For him to have the outing that he had was incredible, we continue to make pitches throughout the game. That is a good team on the road and it's not supposed to be easy. We made it a little harder than it may be needed to be with some free bases, but I'm just proud. That's a big win for us. It's something we can propel moving forward."
Dalton Hitt got the nod today for the final game with the Bears as he went out there and shoved 5.1 innings, allowing just one run on two hits. Hitt earned the win to improve his record to 2-0 on the season.
Joey Tuttoilmondo recorded the save as he came in and got the last out earning him his second save of the year.
High Point's offense got hot early as
Brayden Simpson drove in the first run of the afternoon in the top of the first. The Bears had an answer in the bottom half of the frame scoring a runner on a fielder's choice to shortstop.
A two out, two strike, two-run home run by
Konni Durschlag pushed High Point back in front in the top of the second, 3-1. HPU kept stacking at-bats as
Miggy Echazarreta smoked a ball off the left field wall to score
Landen Johnson who was hustling from first to home.
A scoreless fourth and fifth frame from both sides brought a 4-1 ballgame to the sixth inning where
Christian Smith just got under one and lifted a SAC fly to right field to score Echazarreta.
Mercer's bats woke up in the seventh inning as they were able to add a run off a double to center field to cut the deficit to three. The freshman,
Jack Clark got a pinch-hit appearance and took full advantage as he connected on an RBI single up the middle in the top of the eighth to add an insurance run for High Point.
The Bears weren't going down quietly as they managed to load the bases in the bottom of the ninth off a few walks and base hits. Two runs crossed the plate for the Bears before Tuttoilmondo came in to shut them down recording a swinging strikeout to end the game.
Up Next: High Point will remain on the road as they head to Athens, Ga. to face top-ranked University of Georgia on Tuesday night. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
#GoHPU
