Baseball sweeps KCU in series-opening doubleheader

WEST POINT, Ga. (Mar. 25, 2022) – Cole Brown, Sage McWaters and Chase Raines pitched the Point University baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of Kentucky Christian University Friday afternoon. In game one, Brown struck out five in a 9-1 decision; Raines tossed a complete-game shutout in game two to help the Skyhawks win 3-0. The wins helped Point win the series and improve to 15-13 (10-4 Appalachian Athletic Conference).

Game 1- Point: 9, KCU: 1

Point's offense came out hot in the series opener, as Francisco Garcia put the Skyhawks on the board in the first inning with a two-RBI single that scored Connor Varnum and Dillon Brown. Point would continue their hot start as Jackson Bush and Kevin Howard both connected for RBI singles to right field. Later in the inning, an error allowed Bush to score and extended the Skyhawks lead to 5-0 at the end of the first inning.

Kentucky Christian scored its lone run in the top of the fifth, but the Skyhawks answered in the bottom of the frame, with Garcia scoring off an error to extend Point's score back out by five (6-1). Point would go on to score a run in the sixth, seventh and eighth inning to extend their lead out 9-1. Varnum would bring home Kole Sonnier on a sacrifice fly in the sixth, Zebediah Baird would pinch-hit in the seventh and connect for an RBI single to center field to score Bush and a sacrifice fly from Garcia in the eighth would allow D. Brown to score.

Point outhit the Knights 10-6 and was led at the plate by Bush, Howard, and Jhamante Woods, who recorded two hits apiece, and Garcia, who went 1-for-3 with three RBIs.

C. Brown (5-2) pitched six innings, scattering five hits, giving up one run (earned), and striking out five. McWaters pitched the final three innings, giving up only one hit and striking out two.  

Game 2: Point: 3, KCU: 0

After two scoreless innings, the Skyhawks would score all the runs they would need in the bottom of the third, starting with an RBI single by Jakobe Smith that scored D. Brown. During Garcia's at bat, an error would bring Varnum home and Garcia would send the ball deep into right field for a sacrifice fly to score Smith. Point's defense would prevent the Knights from finding a way onto the scoreboard for the remainder of the game to help the Skyhawks win Friday's twinbill.

The Skyhawks accounted for six hits in game two, with Varnum being the only Skyhawk recording two hits, as he was 2-for-3. D. Brown, Woods, Baird, and Smith all recorded a hit. Raines tossed his second complete game of the season, going all seven innings, giving up just four hits and striking out one. Raines extended his record to 3-1.

Up Next 

Point will look to sweep the series when the two teams play the final tomorrow at 12 p.m. After that, the Skyhawks head to Columbus State for a midweek nonconference matchup Wednesday at 5 p.m.