GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The High Point University baseball team upset No. 9 University of Florida 7-2 on Friday night, marking the highest-ranked win in program history and snapping the Gators' NCAA-best 13-game win streak.
Site: Condron Family Ballpark
Score: High Point 7, #9 Florida 2
Records: High Point (8-6), #9 Florida (13-2)
Head Coach Joey Hammond: "So proud of our guys. That's what we're trying to build, some belief even when there was some opportunities when he was looking bleak. That guy on the mound for Florida (Liam Peterson) is a first round pitcher, and he made it really difficult. But I can't say enough positive things about all of our pitchers and our defense all night. Wade [Walton] was incredible. Obviously not the punch outs, but holy smokes he was fantastic and that's what we needed. Our offense responded and can't say enough good things about the two strike, two out RBI hits that really got us going on a hit and run. It was going to take things like that, and the execution of small ball was fantastic, made a difference in the game. Another SEC win on the road. It's fantastic for our program, but more importantly for our players. I'm just so proud of them, and to watch the joy they had putting it all on the line. Now we've got to have amnesia and turn the page because we didn't come here just for one. We're going to need the same kind of effort and performance from first pitch to last pitch, but hopefully this strikes some belief in our guys that we can clearly go win a game against anybody in the country."
Florida took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, but High Point had it's first answer in the sixth inning.
Frank Kelly walked and moved to third on a single from
Willie Ponce before scoring on a wild pitch to tie the game.
Landen Johnson followed with an RBI groundout to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead.
Florida tied the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth, but High Point responded with a big seventh inning.
Jace Kohler walked and Kelly reached on a bunt single before Ponce delivered an RBI single to center to make it 3-2.
Lane Allen followed with a two-run single, then stole second and third as the Panthers built a 5-2 advantage.
High Point added two more insurance runs in the ninth when Johnson singled in two runs to extend the lead to 7-2.
Kelly led the Panthers offensively, going 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Ponce finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs, while Allen had two RBIs and two stolen bases. Johnson added three RBIs on one hit.
On the mound,
Wade Walton earned the win for High Point, allowing two runs on six hits over seven innings while striking out four.
Tyler Shafer threw a scoreless eighth inning and
Dalton Hitt closed the game in the ninth.
High Point was victorious in its first meeting with the Gators and secured it's first SEC win since beating Ole Miss back in 2024.
Up Next: High Point will return to Condron Ballpark for game two on March 7. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
#GoHPU
