Skyhawks split on opening day
WEST POINT, Ga. (February 8, 2023) – The Point University softball team had their season opener on Wednesday, when they hosted non-conference foe, Brewton-Parker in a double header. The Skyhawks would take Game 1 in walk-off fashion 6-5, but would lose Game 2 with a score of 8-0.
In Game 1, the Skyhawks would send Mary Michael Burnham to the circle to record her first start of the season. She would be relieved by Ashlynn Hamm in the sixth inning after the Barons tied the game. Hamm would go on to record the win.
The Skyhawks would get the scoring started in the first inning when Taylor Knight would hit a RBI single that would score Devon Foster to make it a 1-0 game. The Barons would tie the ballgame up in the top of the second. Taylor Knight would find herself in a similar situation and come up with another RBI single that would score Kayla Wyatt to make it 2-1. The Skyhawks would score two runs in the fourth inning when Kayla Wyatt would hit a double to left field that would score McKensie Barnes. Later that inning, Haley Lyner would hit a ground ball to the second basemen that would score Devon Foster to make it a 4-1 game. The Barons would score two more runs in the sixth inning to cut the Skyhawks lead to 4-3. The Barons would take the lead in the top of the seventh when they would hit a 2 run homer to make it a 5-4 game.
Things got interesting when Allie Davis would hit her first collegiate home run in the top of the seventh to tie the ballgame up at 5-5 and send the game into extra innings. In extra innings in non-conference play, the international tie-breaker rule would come into play. This rule has the last batted out start the inning as a runner on second base. The Skyhawks defensively would turn a double play from shortstop Sabrina Russell to Skye Loftin at third base to stop the Barons offensive threat. In the bottom of the eight, Alexus Griffin would start the inning as the runner at second base. With one out, Hayley Lyner would come up big with an RBI single to score Devon Foster and win in walk-off fashion.
The Skyhawks would score six runs on twelve hits and only commit one error in the field.
Offensive Leaders
Kayla Wyatt – 3 for 5, R, RBI, 2 2Bs
Taylor Knight – 2 for 4, 2 RBIs
Haley Lyner – 2 for 5, 2 RBIs and game winning hit
Sabrina Russell – 2 for 4
Allie Davis – 1 for 4, game tying home run
Winning Pitcher – Ashlynn Hamm (1-0)
Losing Pitcher – Kristi Peters (0-1)
In Game 2, the Skyhawks would fall 8-0 in five innings. They would only tallied three hits in the game, while allowing eight runs off of eights and committing two errors in the field.
Winning Pitcher – Natalie O'Neal (1-0)
Losing Pitcher – Katelyn Jiles (0-1)
Point returns to action on the road this Friday, February 10, when they travel to Tuscaloosa, AL to take on non-conference opponent, Stillman College. First pitch of the double header starting at 3:00 P.M. EST.
