Point Baseball goes 3-1 during Home Opener Weekend
WEST POINT, Ga. (Feb. 10, 2024) - The Point University Baseball team returned to the field for their home opening weekend which began on Thursday, February 8th under the lights against Olivet Nazarene University where the Skyhawks took care of business with a 5-ith a 5-4 win. On the following day, Point continued their weekend with a doubleheader that featured a close 2-1 win in another matchup against Olivet Nazarene and a massive 10-1 win over Johnson University. The final day of the weekend was a second game against Johnson University where the Skyhawks were shut out with a final score of 5-0.
Thursday vs. Olivet Nazarene (5-4, Win)
At the top of the First Inning, Cameron Seiwert came in hot on the mound as he made quick work of the Tigers' batters as all three struck out. Slade Mink did not take long to get going at bat as a double to left scored Rafael Jackson to give the Skyhawks their first run. The Tigers took the second inning with meaning as the Tigers added two runs with an RBI single and a passed ball. Their lead extended to 3-1 but Point quickly wiped it away as Rafael Jackson smacked a double to left field which scored Silas Bulter and Sam Baker. The Skyhawks added their fourth hit of the inning as Alex Marquand's double to center field brought Slade Mink and Rafael Jackson home to put Point back in the lead. Olivet Nazarene looked to steal the game away with a home run to trail 5-4 behind at the top of the ninth in inning. Daniel Crabtree struck out the following three batters to close out the in-winning fashion.
Friday vs. Olivet Nazarene (2-1, Win)
The series of Skyhawks vs Tigers continued with both teams competing in a seven-inning game on Friday. The Skyhawks took the first run as Daniel Gonzalez found his way home to give Point the early lead. The Tigers responded by adding a run to tie the game at one which was kept rather close throughout the following innings. At the top of the fifth inning, Silas Butler woke up the city of West Point with a homerun bomb to put the Skyhawks ahead 2-1. The stellar pitching of Julio Lopez and the defense of Point proved to be on full display as the baseball team held on to win 2-1 over the Tigers for a sweep over Olivet Nazarene.
Friday vs. Johnson University-Tennessee (10-1, Win)
The second game of Friday afternoon Baseball featured former Appalachian Athletic Conference foes with the Skyhawks taking on Johnson University where Point had a season-high of 13 hits in a massive 10-1 over the Royals. Johnson opened the top of the first inning with their lone run as the Royals added an RBI single. Point returned the favor as the Skyhawks were in scoring position as Alex Marquand's single scored Slade Mink and Rafael Jackson home for two runs. The slugfest continued in the bottom of the second inning as Silas Butler added a single to left field which saw Zeb Baird advance home. The Skyhawks added their second run with a hit from Slade Mink which advanced Jaysen Dower home. The speed of Sam Baker was put on display as he raced home from third base to home to continue the momentum of Point. The cherry on top came from a home run bomb by Alex Marquand to score him and Slade Mink home which ended the inning with a total of five runs. As the lights came on with the sun going down, the Skyhawks continued to put on a show in home opener weekend as Rafael Jackson entered the fray with a home run in the fourth inning. The fiery night at bat did not stop there as Jaden Mazzaferro's single to right field scored Sam Baker home to bring the lead to 9-1. The final run came from Justin Robinson's first at-bat as he knocked it out of West Point Park for the home run to see the Skyhawks take the win with a final score of 10-1.
Saturday vs. Johnson University-Tennessee (5-0, Loss)
The Skyhawks took the field for the final day of the home opener weekend in West Point for their second matchup with Johnson University where the Royals took the win 5-0. Johnson jumped in front with two runs in the top of the second inning to hold a 2-0 lead for the majority of the game. The sixth inning saw the Royals add three runs with one being from a home run and another from a RBI single. Point would not be able to add any runs at the bottom of the seventh to fall 5-0.
Up Next
The Skyhawks will return to the field for a midweek action against NCAA Division II, Tuskegee University on Wednesday, February 14th at 2:00 P.M.
