CLINTON, S.C. – The High Point University baseball team defeated the Presbyterian Blue Hose, 10-4, in game one of the weekend series.
Site: Elton Pollack Field
Score: High Point 10, Presbyterian 4
Records: High Point (31-14, 12-4), Presbyterian (17-25, 9-10)
Head Coach Joey Hammond: "
Wade Walton was fantastic today and gave our offense the time and ability to settle in by the middle innings and stack a lead. Proud of
Adam Grintz and
Charlie Jones to get the last nine outs and finish the game for us.
Three Hillier got us started and extended our lead later with a big homer! I thought we did a good job of adjusting our approach and stacking at bats and getting back to cutting balls in half especially with runners in scoring position and two outs."
Wade Walton earned the win in game one over the Blue Hose as he shoved six innings, allowing just two runs on eight hits, and striking out six batters. Walton improved his record to 7-3 amid his rookie campaign.
HPU jumped out to an early lead in the top of the second after
Three Hillier banked one off the left field wall for an RBI double as
Christian Smith went first to home.
The Panthers defense saved them in the bottom of third as they turned an inning ending 4-6-3 double play to get Walton out of the bases loaded jam. HPU led 1-0 after three innings.
After the Blue Hose tied the game at one in the fifth, HPU answered as
Jackson Melton split the left field gap for an RBI double. The lead extended to 4-1 with a two-run blast from Hillier for his third hit of the afternoon. Durschlag added to the HPU lead with an RBI double to left field, before Presbyterian added a run in the bottom of the frame to cut into the 5-2 deficit.
Swinging on the first pitch he saw,
Brayden Simpson sent one into the bushes over the right field fence for his 18th home run of his campaign. Hillier continued to stack RBI for himself with another RBI and his fourth hit as he singled through the right side to score Smith.
With a runner on third in the eighth,
Miggy Echazarreta poked one to right field to extend the HPU lead, 8-2. The run differential climbed to seven after Smith drew a bases loaded walk to score Echazarreta.
HPU added more insurance runs with two outs in the ninth as Echazarreta singled to right field scoring
Frank Kelly.
Charlie Jones came into close things out, but the Blue Hose didn't go down quietly as they scored two runs off a homer before surrendering the final out. HPU took game one of the series, 10-4.
Game two, which was scheduled for a doubleheader this afternoon has been postponed due to inclement weather.
Up Next: HPU will try again with a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 12:00 PM
#GoHPU
