Skyhawks hand Bluefield first loss of season
BLUEFIELD, Va. (March 4, 2022) – The Point University baseball team ended the Bluefield University Rams' 15 game win streak Friday afternoon, as they defeated the Rams 11-8 in game one before falling 11-5 in game two.
Game one: Point- 11, Bluefield- 8
Bluefield remained the only team in the Appalachian Athletic Conference undefeated and one of three undefeated in AAC play before Friday night's game one doubleheader.
Jakobe Smith helped Point take an early lead with a solo homer in the top of the first. The Rams quickly responded with a run in the bottom of the second to tie the score and scored a go-ahead run in the bottom of the third to take a 2-1 lead. In the top of the fifth, an RBI single from Dillon Brown would score Jackson Bush to tie the game 2-2, but the Rams rallied in the bottom of the frame, scoring six runs to take a commanding 8-2 lead.
Point would begin to work its way back in the top of the seventh, following a single to left field from Connor Varnum to score Bush, followed by a 3-run home run from Smith to bring the game back within two (8-6). Gene Abourette would hold the Rams scoreless in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings to help give the Skyhawks a chance to perform a ninth-inning comeback. The Skyhawks were at the top of the order in the ninth and Brown and Varnum found their way on base and into scoring position. Point's comeback started with an error by Bluefield's shortstop that allowed Brown to score and Francisco Garcia to reach first base. Trailing by one, with two outs, Kevin Howard connected for a double to left field, scoring Varnum and Garcia to help Point take a 9-8 lead. Point's rally would not end there, as Jhamante Woods extended Point's lead the following at-bat with a 2-run home run.
In the bottom of the ninth, Casten Reed came in for relief and shut the Rams down with bases loaded to help earn the save and victory for Point.
The Skyhawks' offense accounted for 14 hits and was led by Brown, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI, Varnum went 1-for-4 with an RBI, Smith went 2-for-5 with four RBIs and two home runs, Garcia went 2-for-5 with an RBI, Howard was 1-for-4 with two RBIs, Woods was 1-for-5 with two RBIs and Bush was 3-for-4.
Cole Brown started going 4.0 innings, giving up 10 hits, six runs (five earned), and walking four. Abourette came in for relief and got the win, going 4.0 innings, giving up four hits, two runs (both earned), walking three, and striking out three. Reed earned the save, going one inning, giving up one hit and striking out one.
Game two: Point-5, Bluefield 11
Bluefield earned an early lead in game two as the Rams posted five runs in the bottom of the first. The Skyhawks quickly got four runs back in the top of the second, following a double to left field from Jackson Bush, scoring II Zadod Gabriel. The next at-bat, Kole Sonnier, connected for his third home run of the season, scoring Jhamante Woods and Bush to the Bluefield's lead down to one (5-4). In the top of the fourth, Point would even the score at five after a wild pitch would bring Woods home, but that was as close as the Skyhawks would come, as Bluefield responded in the bottom of the fifth with five runs and an additional run in the bottom of the sixth and Point was unable to repeat another comeback.
Bluefield outhit Point 14-6 in game two, with Bush and Sonnier each going 2-for-3 and Sonnier accounting for three RBIs, while Bush accounted for one. Austin Tebo got the start, going 3.1 innings, giving up six hits, five runs (all earned) and walking two. Alex Williamson came in for relief and suffered the loss, going 1.1 innings, giving up four hits and four runs (all earned).
The Skyhawks and Rams will face off tomorrow, Saturday, March 5, in a rubber match to decide the winner of the AAC series. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.