HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University baseball team fell to Elon, 12-11, on Wednesday night.
Site: Williard Stadium
Score: High Point 11, Elon 12
Records: High Point (27-14, 11-4), Elon (16-24, 6-9)
Head Coach Joey Hammond: "Another disappointing game, but I'm proud of our guys fight. I don't usually like reporting for things that are expected of them, but I want to acknowledge that. They always feel like they are in the game, and they certainly are, up to the last swing. The bottom line is we haven't been very good at minimizing crooked numbers, keeping teams to one run an inning. When you have four crooked numbers and you only get two, you're going to lose. On the flip side of that, we've had a lot of innings recently offensively when we have a harder time getting crooked numbers when they are available. Got to minimize free bases and make plays. That is how you get ones, instead of five's, three's, and twos. Offensively, we've got to be able to get a big hit and extend innings. We're going to be fine, but we got to get over this hump."
The Phoenix came out swinging as they plated five runs on four hits in the top of the first to grow a cushion early in the night. HPU was able to work one run across in its first at-bats after
Landen Johnson smoked a single up the middle scoring
Konni Durschlag from second.
Elon tacked on three more runs in the top of the second, scoring one run on a RBI single and then a two-run home run. With two outs and Durschlag on first,
Miggy Echazarreta hit a double that dropped right in the corner of the left field foul pole as Durschlag hustled home.
Three Hillier was at the plate with the bases loaded in the third inning as he sent a deep fly ball to center field to allow
Brayden Simpson to tag up and score. After two back-to-back walks, HPU added another run to cut the deficit to four. Echazarreta stayed hot at the plate driving in two more runners with a ground-rule double to left center. HPU drove in four runs on two hits.
The Phoenix added two runs on one hit in the top of the fourth to extend their lead to 10-6. For HPU,
Jace Kohler poked an RBI single through the right side to add a run to the Panthers total. The Panthers were down three runs, 10-7, after four innings.
HPU reliever,
Charlie Jones kept the Phoenix off the board in the top of the fifth after a ground out and two punch outs. Elon returned the favor and shut down HPU in the bottom half.
Two runs for the Phoenix crossed the plate in the top of the sixth to push their lead to five. HPU tacked on another run after
Three Hillier chopped a grounder to first base with the bases loaded to score Simpson.
With runners on the corners, Echazarreta got himself in a rundown to allow Durschlag to cross the plate with ease to cap the seventh inning.
HPU worked its way to bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth before
Christian Smith worked a nine pitch at-bat leading to a two RBI single to climb back within one. The Panthers couldn't score the tying run as Elon became victorious, 12-11 on Wednesday night.
Up Next: High Point will welcome Wofford College for a three-game series starting on Saturday, April 26 at 5:00 PM
#GoHPU
