Skyhawks split twin bill with Milligan

WEST POINT, Ga. (April 15, 2022) – The Point University baseball team opened their final Appalachian Athletic Conference series at home Friday afternoon, as they welcomed the Milligan University Buffaloes to town and split with the Buffs, winning game one 8-4 before falling 4-2 in game two.

Game one: Point 8, Milligan 4

The Buffaloes took an early lead, as they scored two runs in the top of the first, but an RBI single from Kevin Howard in the bottom of the frame cut Milligan's score in half (2-1). Milligan would extend its lead back out to two with a run in the top of the fourth, but the Skyhawks would bring the score back within one in the bottom of the frame with a sacrifice fly from Kole Sonnier to score Alex Marquand.

An inning later, the Skyhawks would take the lead with back-to-back RBI singles from Howard and Marquand (4-3). Point would extend their lead with two runs in the sixth and a run in the seventh. In the sixth, Jackson Bush would connect for a 2-RBI single, scoring Connor Varnum and Jeff Rice, and in the seventh, an RBI triple by Kole Sonnier would score Jaysen Dower (7-3).

Milligan would cut Point's lead back down to three with a run in the top of the eighth, but Bush would answer in the bottom of the frame with a double down the left field line, scoring Jakobe Smith.

Point outhit the Buffaloes 12 to 6 with Dillon Brown, Bush and Howard connecting for two hits apiece. Bush led the team with three RBIs, Howard followed with two, and Sonnier went 1-for-2 with two RBIs. Marquand was 1-for-5 with an RBI, and Jeff Rice, Dower, Smith and Varnum each recorded a hit.

Cole Brown earned his seventh win as he threw 6.1 innings, gave up six hits, three runs (two earned), walked three, and struck out five. Sage McWaters earned the save, going 2.2 innings, giving up one run (unearned) and striking out two.

Game two: Point 2, Milligan 4

Milligan struck the scoreboard first, with Brandon Marello connecting for a grand slam in the top of the second. Jackson Bush led off in the bottom of the frame with a solo home run to cut into Milligan's lead. In the bottom of the fifth, a wild pitch would allow Kole Sonnier to score to cut Milligan's lead in half, but that was all the scoring Point was able to accomplish.

D. Brown, Bush, Marquand, Howard and Sonnier each recorded a hit. Bush recorded the Skyhawks' only RBI of the game. Gene Abourette suffered the loss, going seven innings, giving up four hits, four runs (all earned), walking four and striking out seven. 

Up next

The Skyhawks and Buffaloes will face off in a rubber match tomorrow, April 16, at 1 p.m. The Skyhawks will honor the senior members of their program prior to game time.