Skyhawks Split Two vs. Shawnee State
WEST POINT, Ga. - The Point University baseball team split a double header with Shawnee State on Friday and moved to 5-1 on the young campaign. The Skyhawks fell 2-1 in game one and triumphed 7-3 in game two.
Point returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Shawnee State for another twin bill. Game one begins at 1 p.m. followed by game two scheduled for 4 p.m. at West Point Park Baseball Field.
Shawnee State 2, Point 1; 7 Innings
The Bears struck with two outs in the top of the first inning, a double followed by a single gave Shawnee State a quick 1-0 lead after each of its first two batters popped out to shortstop.
The Skyhawks got that run back in the bottom of the second. Damian Hernandez led off the frame by reaching on an error. He got to third with nobody out on a passed ball and another Shawnee State error. An Oscar Soto sacrifice fly to right field scored Hernandez and tied the game.
The Bears re-claimed the lead in the top of the third, going ahead 2-1, an advantage they would not relinquish. Skyhawks' starter Dylan Davis took control for the rest of the contest. He posted a seven-inning complete game and did not allow a run over the final four frames. Davis did not walk a batter while striking out three.
Point's biggest threat came in the sixth when Brady Bye doubled with two outs and Hernandez was intentionally walked. However, they were both stranded and the Skyhawks fell 2-1, suffering their first loss of the season.
Point 7, Shawnee State 3; 9 Innings
Point turned to Daniel Crabtree on the mound in game two the senior sent the Bears down in order in the top of the first. In the bottom half, Bailey Stroud led off with a walk followed by an Arwin Burgos single. Bye then slapped a base hit through the right side which scored Stroud and moved Burgos to third. Burgos then scored on a sacrifice fly by Hernandez. The Skyhawks claimed a 2-0 lead after one.
Crabtree put together another perfect frame in the top of the second and Point got one in the home half. Easton Harrison singled to start the inning and later scored on an error in the Bears' outfield following a Stroud single, giving Point a 3-0 advantage.
Shawnee State chipped away with one run in the third and another in the fourth to close to within one at 3-2.
Point's next tally came in the fifth. Freshman Tommy Hoye drove in his first career run, scoring Bye from second who began the inning with his second hit of the game. Shawnee State clawed one back in the top of the sixth before Point added one more in the bottom half on a Hernandez single, making it 5-3 in favor of the Skyhawks after six frames.
Point extended its lead in the seventh. Stroud led off with a triple, the first of the season for the Shyhawks, and scored on a wild pitch. Later in the frame, Bye slugged a home run over the right field fence to give Point a 7-3 lead. The senior became the Skyhawks' first player to record multiple home runs this season and already eclipsed his total from last year when he hit one long ball in 43 appearances.
Crabtree earned the victory for Point with six innings pitched and three runs allowed, however only one was earned. He did not issue a walk and struck out four. Three relievers, Garrett Mullins, Harris Burns and Cole Johnson, combined to shut down the Bears over the final three innings, allowing no runs and just one hit.
