HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University baseball team defeated Wake Forest University, 7-5, on Tuesday night at Truist Point.
Site: Truist Point
Score: High Point 7, Wake Forest 5
Records: High Point (37-15), Wake Forest (34-18)
Head Coach Joey Hammond: "I don't know where to start. Obviously, it's a quality win at a neutral site. We hope to continue the winning feeling here at this park coming up soon. That's a really good team there which is no surprise. They come at you in waves of talent on the mound and positionally. Can't say enough positive things about our guys. I'd be lying if I told you I was surprised. We expect to go out and compete against anybody. We believe in us, and they obviously got the better of us the first time we played them. We came in with a plan and we were able to execute it. I'm just so proud of so many different guys that stepped up in so many different roles. We made so many big pitches and big defensive plays. We got big hits, and that's what you must do when you want to play against a really good team in the postseason and regional type environment. I think we believe we're good. This was some validation to our guys that if there was ever a doubt, we have the ability to match up against real stuff and put together quality at-bats and score seven runs."
Wake Forest was quick to hop out to an early lead with a leadoff home run to hand them a quick cushion. HPU starter,
Mateo Wells was then able to hunker down and record three consecutive punch outs to end the inning. High Point had an answer in the third inning after a leadoff double from
Justin Ruiz, followed by another double by
Konni Durschlag to even the scoring at one.
A single through the left side in the fifth inning allowed Wake Forest to jump back ahead by one run. With the bases loaded in the sixth inning,
Christian Smith gave HPU the 4-2 lead with a bases clearing double down the right field line.
As HPU led the Demon Deacons after six innings, Wake Forest rallied to score a run on a fielders choice that brought the game back to one in the seventh.
Landen Johnson broke the game open with a double to the gap to clear the bases and score two HPU runs. Smith followed that act with another RBI as he singled to left field to extend the lead, 7-3.
The Deacons scored a pair of runs in the last two frames to make it 7-5 before
Adam Grintz shut them down to earn his third save of the season. High Point held on to beat Wake Forest, 7-5, for the first time since 2022.
Backed by the HPU bullpen who struck out 11 guys,
Charlie Jones went out and dominated against his former team earning himself his first collegiate win. Jones pitched 2.0 innings, allowing just one run on one hit, and struck out three batters.
Up Next: High Point will close out the regular season with a three game road series at Winthrop University. The first game is schedule for Thursday, May 15 at 6:00 p.m.
#GoHPU
