GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The High Point University baseball team went on to defeat No. 9 University of Florida 6-2 to clinch the highest-ranked series win in program history, marking the first non-conference home series loss for the Florida Gators since 2022.
Site: Condron Family Ballpark
Score: High Point 6, #9 Florida 2
Records: High Point (9-6), #9 Florida (13-3)
Head Coach Joey Hammond: "It starts with Ty [Brachbill], I can't say enough good things. We're so confident in our starting pitchers, there's a reason why they're good. He showed up and competed and had toughness. He dealt with adversity with the rain delay. We go as he goes and as our starters go I can't say enough good things about him. Tyler [Shafer], what guts to come back a couple of days in a row and get those last few outs against a really good team. To pitch and play defense, that is really important. And then we had five two-out RBI that just breaks people's backs and that is exactly what happened. That pitcher hadn't given up an earned run all year and to stack that many at-bats and runs is amazing. Positive day overall and played straight up baseball, playing efficient and can't be more proud of our guys."
High Point broke the game open in the third inning with five runs on five hits.
Willie Ponce singled to start the rally before
Christian Smith drew a walk.
Jake McCarter followed with a single that led to the first run after a throwing error.
Seojun Oh then delivered a two-RBI double to center field to make it 3-0.
Jace Kohler added an RBI single and
Jack Clark drove in another run with a double to give the Panthers a 5-0 lead.
The Panthers added another run in the seventh when McCarter hit a solo home run to left-center to extend the lead to 6-0.
Florida scored two runs in the seventh inning, but the Panthers bullpen limited the damage.
Tyler Shafer finished the final 2.1 innings, striking out five to help secure the win.
High Point finished with 13 hits in the game. Kohler led the offense going 3-for-5 with an RBI, while McCarter had two hits and two runs scored including the home run. Clark and
Landen Johnson each added two hits, and Oh finished with two RBIs.
On the mound,
Ty Brachbill earned the win for High Point, pitching 6.2 innings and allowing two runs on four hits while striking out four.
Up Next: High Point will go for the sweep over the No. 9 Gators tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.
#GoHPU
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