HIGH POINT, N.C. – Wade Walton pitched his second complete game of the season as the High Point University baseball team mercy ruled the Wofford Terriers, 13-1, in seven innings on Saturday evening.
Site: Williard Stadium
Score: High Point 13, Wofford 1
Records: High Point (28-14, 11-4), Wofford (25-18, 3-9)
Head Coach Joey Hammond: "What a fantastic performance by
Wade Walton. It is exactly what we needed, and we were able to preserve our bullpen. He attacked the strike zone all game and it was incredible and fun to watch. When you have multiple pitches on both sides of the plate, you get to dictate the tempo, and he did a really good job of that. I'm proud of him, and it was great to see our offense thrive today. We were able to have a plan, and we got rewarded with a few homers. A lot of good positive individual performances.
Landen Johnson had a big day for us, but positives all the way up and down. It was a great rebound game after a few tough ones recently. To be able to do this with so many alumni back is incredible, it really energizes us. It's awesome to see their faces and they take pride in it. Our currently players respect and appreciate that."
Walton shoved seven complete innings earning him his fifth win and second complete game of the season. Allowing just one run on four hits, Walton commanded the strike zone as he did his job on the mound allowing the HPU offense to do its thing.
Konni Durschlag gave HPU an early start as he smashed a lead off home run over the left center wall to kick-start the offense. After
Miggy Echazarreta reached on a ground-rule double,
Landen Johnson went down and smoked a two-run home run that soared over the right field wall to put up a crooked number in the first inning.
Echazzareta tallied his second hit of the afternoon in the second inning after he singled through the right-side scoring
James Murphy from third. Johnson followed with another hit as he ripped a single to left field scoring two runners to add to the early HPU lead.
The Panthers continued to put up a crooked number as they brought two across the plate in the bottom of the third. With two runners on,
Frank Kelly split the gap to score one, followed by a SAC fly from Durschlag to extend the lead to 8-0 after three.
Five runs crossed the plate for HPU in the bottom of the fifth after the Panthers smoked four home runs in one inning. Two of the four came as back-to-back homers.
Three Hillier started it off with an opposite field blast to break the single season home run record, previously set at 92.
James Murphy then followed with his eighth homer of the season, before Johnson went on to smoke his third hit and second homer of the night.
Brayden Simpson didn't want to be left out as he smashed one to center field for his 17th long ball of his season.
The Terriers couldn't fight back in the top of the seventh as Walton shut them down to give HPU the 13-1 mercy rule victory to open the series.
Up Next: High Point will host the Terriers for a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 12:00 p.m. at Williard Stadium.
#GoHPU
