HIGH POINT, N.C. - The High Point University baseball team dropped game one, 7-5, to University of Maine on Friday afternoon.
Site: Williard Stadium
Score: High Point 5, Maine 7
Records: High Point (2-3), Maine (2-3)
Head Coach Joey Hammond: "Obviously disappointed in the outcome. Not a whole lot of positives to kind of take away from a game like this. We got totally outplayed in every facet. I felt like they hit better than us, they pitched better, and they played better defense. They also ran the bases better, so it's not hard to figure out that you lose the game at the end."
The game was scoreless through the first four innings as both pitching staffs kept traffic limited. High Point broke through first in the bottom of the fifth inning when
Willie Ponce doubled to right field to drive in
Jace Kohler, giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
Maine responded with seven runs in the top of the sixth inning to take control. High Point answered in the bottom half of the frame, scoring four runs to close the gap.
Lane Allen doubled to right-center to start the rally, followed by a two-run home run from
Seojun Oh.
Jake McCarter added a solo home run, and Ponce drove in another run to make it 7-5.
The Panthers had chances late but were unable to push across additional runs over the final three innings.
McCarter finished 3-for-4 with a home run and an RBI, while Oh drove in two runs with his second homer of the season. Ponce added two RBIs, and Allen went 2-for-4 with a double.
Wade Walton worked five innings on the mound, striking out six, while
Tyler Shafer tossed four innings in relief.
Up Next: High Point will play a doubleheader on Saturday, February 21 against University of Maine. The first game is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. while game two will start approximately 40-45 minutes following the conclusion of game one.
#GoHPU
