Skyhawks’ Late Magic Runs Out Against Talladega College

WEST POINT, Ga. – The Point University Skyhawks loaded the bases and brought the winning run to the plate on Wednesday night, but the Talladega College Tornadoes stranded them on base to hang on and win 7-4 at West Point Park.

Talladega scored in each of the first four innings to build a 5-4 lead, then created some breathing room with two more runs in the sixth. Point threatened throughout and finished with nine hits but stranded 13 runners, including multiple baserunners in three separate innings, as the Skyhawks could not come up with the one big hit needed to close the gap.

Trailing right away in the bottom of the first 1-0, Damian Hernandez ripped a run-scoring double to left to bring home Bailey Stroud and tie the game. Later in the inning, Brady Bye lined a triple to right, cashing in another run and giving the Skyhawks a 2-1 advantage in their first trip to the plate.

The teams traded runs again in the fourth. Sebastian Pizarro manufactured a run for Talladega by advancing on a wild pitch, taking advantage of a catcher error and ultimately stealing home to push the lead to 5-3. The Skyhawks answered in the bottom half with a sacrifice fly from Oscar Soto that scored Hernandez, pulling Point within 5-4 and keeping momentum in reach.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Skyhawks loaded the bases with Hernandez and Bye singling before Oscar Soto was hit by a pitch, but the Tornadoes' closer Dewinel Vasquez forced a popup for the third and final out.

Hernandez and Bye led the Point offense, as Hernandez finished 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI, while Bye went 3-for-5 with a triple and two key RBI hits. The Skyhawks also drew five walks and were hit by three pitches, repeatedly putting pressure on Talladega's staff but unable to cash in enough of those opportunities.

The Skyhawks sent nine pitchers to the mound with each one completing a full inning. Garrett Mullins, Will Davey and Jacob Rossi each did not allow any hits or runs.

Point revisits their conference schedule this Friday, March 20 for a series opener at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama. That is a single nine-inning game that will begin at 5:00pm EDT.