Strong pitching and hot bats leads Point to series opening run-rule victory

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. (April 22, 2022) — The Point University baseball team opened its Appalachian Athletic Conference series at Union Friday evening with a 14-4 run-rule victory.

Point (22-18, 17-8 AAC) fell behind early, following a two-run home run from Union's (10-25, 8-17 AAC) Stephen Karis in the bottom of the first. The Skyhawks would take over in the top of the second, with Connor Varnum tying the game 2-2 following a double to left field that scored Francisco Garcia and Jakobe Smith. The next at-bat, Alex Marquand would drive in Kole Sonnier and Varnum with a single to right center, to help the Skyhawks take a 4-2 lead.

The following inning, a bases loaded hit by pitch to Sonnier would score Smith, and Varnum would drive in his third run of the day with a sacrifice fly that scored Jaysen Dower (6-2).
In the fifth, Marquand would walk with bases loaded, bringing home Sonnier, an error would score Dillon Brown and a double to left center from Jakobe Smith would score Howard, Marquand and Varnum to give Point an 11-2 lead.

In the seventh, the Skyhawks would add three runs to their lead, following a triple to right center from Zebediah Baird that scored Jackson Bush, an RBI single from Smith that scored Baird, and an infield groundout from Trent Sheppard that scored Smith. In the bottom of the frame, the Bulldogs attempted to avoid the run-rule, by scoring two runs and had another in scoring position, before Point was able to earn the game ending out.

Smith led Point at the plate, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs and scored three times. Varnum was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and Marquand was 1-for-4 with three RBIs. Sonnier was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and D. Brown, Baird and Dower each recorded a hit. Point's offense recorded nine walks and 11 hits in 29 at-bats.

Cole Brown earned his eighth win of the season, going six innings, giving up seven hits, two runs (earned), walking three and striking out eight. Adam Castillo came in for relief, throwing the final inning, giving up two hits, two runs (earned) and striking out one.

Point will look for the series victory tomorrow, as they compete in the doubleheader portion of the series, with first pitch of game one scheduled for 12 p.m.