HIGH POINT, N. C. – The High Point University baseball team opened the 2026 season with a 15-7 victory over Saint Joseph's University on Friday night.
Site: Williard Stadium
Score: High Point 15, Saint Joseph's 7
Records: High Point (1-0) , Saint Joseph's (0-1)
Head Coach Joey Hammond: "It's a good way to start a season coming out with a win. I see a lot of positive things individually. We dealt with some adversity and took a punch in the middle of the game and didn't blink. The production from the sixth and seventh inning is championship level stuff to respond with. A three-spot of our own and then Tyler [Shafer] going back out there to get us back on track and putting up a zero. I felt like that was the difference maker. Wade [Walton] was fantastic, especially early on. I know he got tired, but that's what happens at this stage of the game. Landen [Johnson] got us going in the first inning doing what he does, as well as Seojun [Oh} with a massive at-bat. That's part of who we are and we're trying to do damage. For us to come out with four extra base hits at this stage, I'm proud of our guys."
High Point jumped out early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. After a pair of walks,
Landen Johnson launched a three-run home run to right field to give the Panthers an early lead.
The Panthers added four more runs in the third inning to extend the lead.
Willie Ponce tripled to center field and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Johnson.
Seojun Oh followed with a three-run home run to dead center, pushing the lead to 7-0.
Saint Joseph's got on the board in the fifth and sixth scoring seven runs on six hits, but High Point answered in the bottom of the sixth inning with three runs. A rocket hit to third base caused a throwing error on the Hawks allowing HPU to take the 8-7 lead.
Jake McCarter followed that with a double to right-center past a diving center fielder to drive in two, giving the Panthers a 10-7 cushion.
High Point put the game away in the seventh, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring five runs. Ponce delivered a two-run single, while a sacrifice fly from
Lane Allen and a SAC bunt from
Frank Kelly capped the scoring.
Tyler Shafer earned the win in relief, tossing 3.1 innings while allowing one unearned run and striking out four.
Wade Walton made the start, working 5.2 innings without allowing an earned run.
Johnson finished with four RBIs, while Ponce scored three runs and drove in two. Oh added three RBIs, and
Jace Kohler recorded three hits as High Point defeat Saint Joseph's, 15-7, to open the 2026 season.
Up Next: High Point will return to Williard Stadium for a doubleheader with Saint Joseph's to wrap up the opening series. Game two will begin at 12:00 p.m. followed by game three starting approximately 40-45 minutes after the conclusion of game two.
#GoHPU
