Baseball splits with CIU to close regular season play

COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 29, 2022) – The Point University baseball team closed out its regular-season schedule Friday afternoon with the doubleheader portion of its Appalachian Athletic Conference series at Columbia International University and split with the Rams, falling 5-4 in game one and winning 12-6 in game two.

Game one- Point 4, CIU 5

The Rams got the first runs of the game on the board with an RBI double and single in the bottom of the third. Point quickly answered in the top of the fourth with two runs of their own, following an RBI double from Francisco Garcia and RBI single from Jaysen Dower.

Point extended its lead with a run in the fifth, following a sacrifice fly from Jackson Bush and an RBI single from Dower in the sixth (4-2). The Rams, however, would put together a 3-run rally in the seventh inning to retake the lead 5-4. CIU would hold its lead for the remainder of the contest, securing the series victory.

Cole Brown got the start on the mound for Point and went five innings, giving up six hits, two runs (both earned), walking two and struck out six. Adam Castillo came in for relief, going one inning, giving up two runs (both earned) and walking one. Ben Beasley suffered the loss, giving up two hits, one run (earned), and walked one. Jackson Knox threw the final two innings, giving up no hits or runs.

Point combined for 10 hits, with Dillon Brown, Garcia and Dower recording two hits apiece. Connor Varnum, Jakobe Smith, Zebediah Baird and Kole Sonnier recorded one. Dower had two RBIs and Garcia and Bush recorded one each.

Game two- Point 12, CIU 6

The Rams got the scoring going once again, with a run in the bottom of the first, but a 2-run home run from Baird in the top of the second would put the Skyhawks in the lead. Point extended its lead with a 6-run third inning. All six of Point's runs came with two outs, as the rally began with a sacrifice fly from Garcia that scored II Zadod Gabriel. Baird then scored Bush off a double to center field. A fielder's choice and a hit by pitch would allow Dower and Sonnier to reach base and with bases loaded, Brown would connect for a 2-RBI single to center field. Varnum would then score Brown and Sonnier with a single to left field (8-1).

The Rams would cut into Point's lead with two runs in the bottom of the frame, but the Skyhawks would respond with four runs in the fourth. Dower would score Jeff Rice with a single to left field, and Sonnier would follow with a 3-run home run (12-3). CIU would cut Point's lead in half with a run in the bottom of the frame and two in the fifth, but the Rams were unable to cut Point's lead down any further.

Point had eight hits and was led by Baird, who went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and Brown who was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two walks. Varnum, Dower and Sonnier each recorded a hit. Sonnier had three RBIs, Varnum had two and Dower and Garcia had one apiece.

Gene Abourette got the start and win, going three and two-thirds of an inning, giving up six hits, four runs (all earned), walking six and striking out three. Alex Williamson was the first of three pitchers to come in for relief and went one and one-third of an inning, giving up one hit, two runs (both earned), walking two and striking out one. Salter Greene followed, going one inning, giving up one walk and striking out two. Casten Reed pitched the final inning and struck out one.

Up next

With the completion of Saturday's doubleheader, the Skyhawks finish the regular season 25-20 (20-10 AAC) and finish as the No. 3 seed in the AAC standings.

The Skyhawks will be back in action next Wednesday at Hunter-Wright Stadium in Kingsport in the opening round of the AAC tournament.