Point Baseball surges past the Crusaders in Game three, but drops Series at home
WEST POINT, Ga. (Feb. 16, 2024) - The Point University Baseball team opened their Southern States Athletic Conference opener at home versus William Carey University on Thursday and Friday where William Carey won the first two games but fell to the Skyhawks in Game Three.
Game One on Thursday, Feb. 15 (5-2, Loss)
The first game opened under the lights for the SSAC opener as both teams looked to get the upper edge in the series. The Skyhawks took the lead with a single to left field from Jaden Mazzaferro which scored Alex Marquand home for the first run of the game. William Carey charged back with two runs to take the lead 2-1. The Crusaders' lead grew as a passed ball added their third run of the game. Billy Garrity from William Carey added a single to left field which scored two runners home in their favor to lead 5-1. The Skyhawks added their second run as Hunter Neumayer advanced home on the error from the Crusaders. Point looked to take their last chance at adding three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning but would not be able to add any runs as William Carey took the win.
Game Two on Friday, Feb. 16 (4-1, Loss)
Game two of the series opened on Friday afternoon with both teams looking to battle. Silas Butler's sacrifice fly sent Rafael Jackson home to score the first run to lead 1-0. The game stayed close through the first six innings with William Carey adding a run to tie it 1-1. The Crusaders opened the top of the seventh inning with a home run to take the lead. Jake Lycette of William Carey reached first from an error which also scored two runners to bring their lead to 4-1. The Skyhawks looked to add three runs at the bottom of the seventh inning but two strikeouts and a fly out to right field ended the game with a final score of 4-1.
Game Three on Friday, Feb. 16 (11-3, Win)
The Skyhawks came into Game Three on a clean slate and it showed with a strong first inning. Zeb Baird got the Skyhawks going with a double which scored Slade Mink and Rafael Jackson for the first two runs. The next at-bat was lit up with Alex Marquand smacking a home run to score him and Zeb Baird home to bring the early lead to 4-0. With two outs on the board, the Skyhawks were not done as Jaden Mazzaferro hit a RBI single to left field which scored Silas Butler home for the fifth run in the bottom of the first inning. The second inning continued to be in Point's territory as a wild pitch scored Slade Mink home. Mason followed with a double to left field to add their seventh run with Hunter Neumayer scoring with Point leading 7-0. The Crusaders were able to add their first run with a single to center field to score their first run. With Point enjoying a comfortable lead, the hunger for more continued as loaded bases and walks were the results of two runs in the sixth inning to increase their lead to 9-1. William Carey crept closer to Point's lead with two RBI singles to bring their deficit to six. Sam Baker joined the fun as he added a double to score Jaden Mazzaferro and Hunter Neumayer for the final runs of the game to win 11-3.
Up next
The Skyhawks continue their homestand as Point takes on former AAC foe Truett McConnell University in a non-conference game at West Point Park on Tuesday, February 20th starting at 3:00 P.M.