Baseball splits on Senior Day, but drops last AAC regular season series to CIU
WEST POINT, Ga. (April 28, 2023) – The Point University baseball team would play a AAC conference doubleheader at home against Columbia International University. The Skyhawks would split the doubleheader by losing the first game, 9-7 and winning the second game, 7-6. CIU would win the series 2-1 with their win yesterday in Game 1 and Game 2 victories.
GAME 2 – 9-7 LOSS
The Rams would take an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first off, an RBI double. The Skyhawks wouldn't be able to respond until the bottom of the fifth when Sam Baker would hit an RBI sacrifice bunt that would score Jackson Bush to make it 1-1. After the score would be tied up by the Skyhawks in the fifth inning, it would be quick lived because the Rams would score three runs to retake the lead at 4-1. Zeb Baird would hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Slade Mink to cut the lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth. Noah Watkins would tie the game up in the sixth after his two-run home run to make it a 4-4 game. Later in the sixth inning, Kaleb Podger would hit an 2 RBI double to left field that would score both Sam Baker and Jaysen Dower to make it 6-4. The Rams would add a run back in the eighth off a wild pitch to make it 6-5. In the bottom of the eighth, Podger would reach on an error by the second basemen to score Sam Baker to make it 7-5. The Rams would score four runs in the of the ninth to take a 9-7 lead. The Rams would hold on in the bottom of the ninth and take a 9-7 Game 2 victory. This would secure the Rams an away AAC conference series win.
Daniel Crabtree would get the start on the mound going six innings and allowing four earned runs. Crabtree would be relieved by Cale Whigham who would throw a scoreless seventh inning. Bailey Mara would come into the game in the eighth inning and would allow one run on two hits. In the ninth inning, the Skyhawks would get a blown save from Clayton Smith when he would allow four earned runs on three hits after only recording one out. Carson Curry would come in after Smith left the game and would get two outs to end the ninth inning, but the damage had been done. The Rams were able to retake the lead in the ninth inning and held on for the victory.
GAME 3 – 7-6 WIN
The Rams would score first in the top of the first to make it 1-0. The Skyhawks would tie the ball game up in the bottom of the second when Trent Sheppard would single up the middle to score Zeb Baird to make it 1-1. The Rams would score three runs in the top of the fourth inning to make it a 4-1 game. In the bottom of the fourth, Trent Sheppard would get a base on balls and Zeb Baird would score on a wild pitch to cut the lead of the Rams to 4-2. Jaysen Dower would reach first on an error by the second basemen to score Noah Watkins to make it 4-3. The Skyhawks would add another run in the fourth when Trent Sheppard would score on a Sam Baker single to make it a tie game at 4-4. Later in the fourth inning, Kaleb Podger would hit a sacrifice fly to score Jaysen Dower to give the Skyhawks a 5-4 lead. The Rams would add a run in the top of the fifth to tie the game up at 5-5. The Skyhawks would get two runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it 7-5. Noah Watkins and Trent Sheppard would both provide the RBIs to retake the lead. The Rams would get the score back to one run when they would score in the top of the sixth to make it 7-6. The Skyhawks would hold on in the top of the seventh to take the 7-6 Game 3 victory.
Cam Seiwert would get the start and would go 3.2 innings allowing four earned runs on three hits. Seiwert would be relieved by Gene Aberoutte who would go 2.1 innings to get the win for the Skyhawks. Adam Barnett would shut the door with his two strikeouts in the top of the seventh to get a save and secure the Skyhawks 7-6 victory.
THANK YOU SENIORS
The baseball team celebrated their seven seniors for Senior Day before the doubleheader. The seven seniors that were celebrated were:
Cole Brown – RHP
Salter Greene – LHP
Chad Hilsman - C
Bailey Mara – LHP
Pat Medina - INF
Justin Robinson - INF
Cale Whigham - RHP
Next Game
The baseball team will travel to Kingsport, Tenn. next week for the AAC conference baseball tournament. The schedule is not currently out yet, but please check our website and social media platforms for updates on the AAC conference baseball tournament.
