BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The High Point University baseball team extended its win streak to a Division I program-record eight games with a 15-4 series sweep over Gardner-Webb University on Sunday afternoon.
Site: John Henry Moss Field
Score: High Point 15, Gardner-Webb 4
Records: High Point (18-9, 7-2), Gardner-Webb (13-15, 3-6)
Head Coach Joey Hammond: "Proud of our guys for completing the weekend and just playing clean baseball all weekend. Aidan [Paul] gave us five strong innings and Noah [Zimmerman] came in and dominated the lineup the rest of the way. From top to bottom our lineup was relentless today - each time GWU scored, we answered with runs of our own immediately. Obviously nine extra base hits (six homers) are big for us but I'm especially happy with the two strike hitting we showed today. Not only were we able to put the ball in play with two strikes, we did so with damage."
After
Willie Ponce reached base, he came around to score the game's first run when
Lane Allen ripped a ball down the left field line, giving the High Point a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
Gardner-Webb University answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the third to even the score at 1-1.
High Point regained control in the fourth when
Jake McCarter launched a three-run homer over the left field wall. Gardner-Webb responded with a sacrifice fly in the bottom half, trimming the deficit to 4-2.
The Panthers kept the pressure on in the fifth, as
Landen Johnson and
Seojun Oh each blasted solo home runs to extend the lead to 6-2. The Runnin' Bulldogs answered with a two-run shot of their own, cutting it to 6-4 through five innings.
McCarter continued his big day in the sixth, delivering a bases-loaded single up the middle to drive in Allen and Johnson, pushing the lead to 8-4. High Point broke the game open in the seventh when Ponce crushed a three-run homer to right field, making it 11-4.
The Panthers added more insurance in the ninth, as Allen launched a three-run homer before Oh followed with a solo shot - his second of the game and the team's sixth home run of the day.
Noah Zimmerman sealed the victory with four hitless innings out of the bullpen and earning the save, while
Aidan Paul earned the win after tossing five innings, allowing four runs on six hits.
Up Next: High Point will host Wake Forest University at Williard Stadium on Tuesday, March 31 at 6:00 p.m.
#GoHPU
