Point Baseball rolls past the Firehawks to win SSAC weekend series

PULASKI, Tenn. (Mar. 3, 2024) - The Point University Baseball returned to the field for a Southern States Athletic Conference matchup against the University of Tennessee Southern where the Skyhawks took the series 2-1 over the Firehawks.  

Game One (2-1, Loss) 

The Firehawks opened the bottom of the first inning with the first run as UT Southern scored off an error from the pitcher. Point followed by tying the game with their first run from a fielding error from the Firehawks which advanced Alex Marquand home. UT Southern regained the lead with a sacrifice fly to score a runner home which brought the score to 2-1. Point looked to surpass the Firehawks and steal the game but UT Southern would be able to secure their putouts and avoid any other errors to take Game One. 

Pitchers

Game Two (10-7, Win) 

The action picked up in the top of the third inning as a wild pitch helped advance Alex Marquand home to score the first run. Point added fuel to the fire as Trent Sheppard hit a sacrifice fly to right field which scored Slade Mink. The final run of the inning came from an error by the catcher which brought the lightning speed of Rafael Jackson home. Point continued to extend their lead as the Skyhawks capitalized from the errors of UT Southern which advanced Jaysen Dower home for another run. The bats were not cold for the Skyhawks as Alex Marquand hit a home run to center field which scored Marquand and Sam Baker to bring their lead to 7-0. Rafael Jackson followed with a single to right field which scored Slade Mink to add their fourth run of the inning. Hunter Neumayer entered the fray with a single to left side to have Slade Mink add his second run of the game in the sixth inning. With bases loaded, UT Southern was unable to retire a batter as hit by pitch would advance Trent Sheppard home for a 9-0 lead. The Firehawks started to climb back with a home run to center field which scored two runs to now trail by seven. Point entered the seventh inning with a response as Slade Mink hit a home run to left center to give the Skyhawks their 10th run of the game. The Firehawks showed life in the bottom of the ninth inning by adding five runs to trail by three but would be unable to finish the game with extra innings as the final batter struck out from Carson Curry. 

Batters

Game Three (10-4, Win) 

Rafael Jackson started Game Three with a vengeance as he hit a home run to center field to put the Skyhawks ahead in the afternoon matchup. Point continued to build their momentum as Daniel Gonzalez singled a hit up the middle which helped score another run with Trent Sheppard capitalizing from the errors from UT Southern. With Jaysen Dower next to bat, he singled to center field to bring Jaden Mazzaferro home and celebrate with his teammates. A sacrifice fly from Jeremiah Martin gave Point their third run of the fourth inning to hold a 4-0 lead overall. UT Southern began to find their way back as a single to right field helped score their first run and a fielder's choice added their second run. The Skyhawks remained consistent at bat as Trent Sheppard continued to build on a big weekend with a single up the middle which was the perfect opportunity to score Rafael Jackson home. The Skyhawks finished the game by adding five more runs while only allowing two runs to win the game 10-4 and take the series. 

Up Next 

The Skyhawks will return to the field for a non-conference game against Toccoa Falls College on Tuesday, March 5th at West Point Park starting at 3:00 P.M.