Point wins series over TMU
EMERSON, Ga. (March 11, 2022) – The Point University baseball team competed in the doubleheader portion of its series against Appalachian Athletic Conference foe Truett McConnell on Friday at the LakePoint Baseball Sportsplex in Emerson, Ga. The Skyhawks dropped game one, falling 16-4 in seven innings, before bouncing back and winning game two 9-6 to earn its third series victory of the season.
Game one- Point: 4, TMU: 16
The Bears' offense came out hot in game one of Friday's doubleheader as TMU put up four runs in the first, three runs in the second and four runs in the third. Point answered the Bears' four-run first inning with two runs in the bottom of the frame, following a bases-loaded hit by pitch to Francisco Garcia that scored Dillon Brown and a sacrifice fly from Kevin Howard, scored Connor Varnum. The Bears would hold Point scoreless over the next two innings as they extended their lead out 11-2.
In the bottom of the fourth, a sacrifice fly from Jhamante Woods would bring Garcia home, and a double steal would allow II Zadod Gabriel to come home, making the score 11-4. After a scoreless fifth inning, the Bears would add two runs to their lead in the sixth and three in the seventh and hold Point scoreless to put the mercy rule into effect in the seventh.
The Bears took advantage of six Point errors as four of TMU's runs were unearned. Point combined for six hits with Howard leading the way, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and Alex Marquand, Jakobe Smith, Garcia and Woods accounted for one hit.
Howard caught three Bears on the basepath to help in defensive efforts. Cole Brown started for Point and suffered the loss, going 2.0 innings, giving up six hits, 10 runs (eight earned), walking four and striking out two.
Game two- Point: 9, TMU: 6
In game two, the Skyhawks' bats came alive as Point posted six runs in the bottom of the second. Woods sparked Point's rally with a 3-run home run to right-center field that scored Gabriel and Jackson Bush. Kole Sonnier followed in the inning with an RBI-double to left field to score Marquand and a single down the right field line to Varnum would bring home Sonnier.
In the top of the third, TMU would cut Point's lead in half with a 3-run homer of their own and would go on to bring the game within two in the top of the fourth with an RBI infield groundout. Bush would help Point gain a more comfortable lead in the bottom of the frame, as he connected for a 2-run home run to left field to extend Point's lead out by four (8-4). Once again, the Bears would answer with a home run of their own, cutting the score back down to two in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, a wild pitch would allow Sonnier to come home and help Point extend their lead out to three and the Skyhawks would hold the lead to earn the series victory.
Point combined for nine hits in game two, with Sonnier and Marquand leading the way, going 2-for-3 apiece. Brown, Varnum, Jeff Rice, Bush and Woods all accounted for one hit apiece. Bush and Woods each recorded three RBIs each. Chase Raines got the start and win, going 5.0 innings, giving up nine hits, five runs (all earned), walking two and striking out two. Casten Reed earned his fourth save of the season, as he pitched the final inning, giving up one hit, one walk and striking out two.
Up next
Point will be back in action March 18-19, as they travel to Bryan College for an AAC series with the Lions. Game one will be played at 6 p.m. on Friday, with the doubleheader portion scheduled to begin on Saturday at 1 p.m.