HIGH POINT, N.C. - The High Point University baseball team used a three-run seventh inning to secure a 4-3 win over Binghamton University on Sunday afternoon to clinch the series win.
Site: Williard Stadium
Score: High Point 4, Binghamton 3
Records: High Point (7-5), Binghamton (2-7)
Head Coach Joey Hammond: "I'm glad to get a series win. Credit to Binghamton, they came in and they pitched well all weekend and got some timely hits. I thought Aidan [Paul] was fantastic. Jack [Carey], and Tyler [Shafer] were great out of the bullpen. We made it a little harder on ourselves on a few plays, but we also got big hits when we needed them. We got 10 hits, five extra base hits, but it was really hard to stack anything, so credit to Binghamton. Happy to get a series win, in a way where we faced some adversity from the start of the weekend. We learned a bit about our club, but nothing is going to matter if we can also not make it harder on ourselves. It's good to know we can succeed but we've also got to take advantage of any and every opportunity to not put ourselves in that spot."
High Point struck first in the bottom of the first inning when
Willie Ponce reached and later scored on an RBI single by
Christian Smith to give the Panthers an early 1-0 lead. In the top of the third inning,
Lane Allen made an unbelievable home run robbery as he flipped over the right field wall to make the grab to keep the Bearcats off the board.
The game remained scoreless through the middle innings as
Aidan Paul settled in on the mound. Paul worked seven innings, allowing just two hits while striking out two to earn the win.
Binghamton tied the game with a solo home run in the sixth, but High Point responded immediately in the seventh.
Jace Kohler doubled to start the inning and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by
Frank Kelly. Ponce then delivered a two-run home run to right field, and Allen followed with a solo shot to left to push the Panthers ahead 4-1.
Binghamton plated two runs in the eighth, but the Panthers held firm down the stretch.
Jack Carey worked a scoreless eighth inning before
Tyler Shafer closed the door in the ninth to earn his second save of the season.
Ponce finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs, while Allen added a home run and Kohler went 2-for-3. High Point totaled 10 hits in the win.
Up Next: High Point will host Liberty University for a mid-week contest on Tuesday, March 3 at 4:00 p.m.
#GoHPU
