Softball swept in season opener

WEST POINT, Ga. (Feb. 8, 2022) – The Point University softball team hosted Middle Georgia State in its 2022 season opener Tuesday afternoon and fell to the Knights 5-4 in game one and 8-2 in game two.

Game one- Point: 4 Middle Georgia: 5 (8 innings)

The Knights took an early 2-0 lead after scoring two runs in the top of the second and added two more runs in the fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, Kayla Wyatt got the Skyhawks on the board with a single to center field, scoring Haley Lyner. Trailing 4-1 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Skyhawks put up three runs to send the game into extra innings. Knight started Point's rally with a double to right field to score Lyner, and Ariyon Hightower followed with a double of her own to right field, driving in Brianna Plocharczyk, who pinch ran for Knight. With the Skyhawks trailing by one, an error by the Knights' shortstop would allow Wyatt to score and tie the game 4-4.

In the top of the eighth, the game went into international tiebreaker rules, which each team getting a runner on second to begin their respective inning. Middle Georgia went straight to work, pushing their runner on second across home plate. A sacrifice bunt, followed by a single to center field, would score Middle Georgia's Alexis Cosgrove to help the Knights retake the lead. In the bottom of the inning, Point could not push Chelsea Parker across and fell in game one.

The Knights recorded 14 hits in game one, with the Skyhawks only getting five. Lyner connected for two of Point's hits and scored twice. Mary Burnham got the start for Point, going 6.1 innings, giving up 12 hits, four runs, three earned, walking one and striking out two. Ashlynn Hamm came in for relief and suffered the loss, going 1.2 innings, giving up two hits and one run (unearned).

Game two- Point: 2 Middle Georgia: 8

In game two, the Skyhawks got on the board first after an infield error by the Knights allowed Meagan Pildner to score in the bottom of the second. The Knights would not allow Point's lead to go far, as Middle Georgia rallied to score five runs in the top of the fourth. The Skyhawks took a run back in the bottom of the inning after an error allowed Asia Jones to score, but a 3-run homer from Middle Georgia's Lauren Heath would extend Middle Georgia's lead out to six, and Point could not make a comeback.

Point recorded seven hits in game two, with Lyner again recording two. Katelyn Jiles got the start for Point, going three innings, giving up four hits, three runs (all earned), walking two and striking out two. Zada Smith came in for relief, going 1.1 innings, giving up three hits, five runs (four earned) and walking one. Hamm closed the game, throwing 2.2 innings, giving up two hits.

Up next

Point will be back in action tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 9, as they host Stillman and 3 & 5 p.m.