Skyhawks Take One of Two Games Against Blue Mountain Christian
WEST POINT, Ga. – The Point University Skyhawks busted out of their recent slump on Friday afternoon, beating the Blue Mountain Christian University Toppers 6-3 in game one prior to being limited to three hits in a 6-0 loss at West Point Park. The victory was their first against SSAC opposition this season.
Game One:
Point shook off an early two-run deficit with a five-run third inning and went on to defeat Blue Mountain Christian 6-3.
The highlight of the game was made by MaKenzie Gilliland, who crushed a three-run home run in the bottom of the third to push the Skyhawks in front 3-2. Later in the inning, Alexa McCoy added a two-run double to stretch the lead to 5-2 and complete Point's turnaround.
Aspen Teague did the heavy lifting offensively for the Toppers. She was responsible for the first two runs of the game after smacking an RBI double to center field before producing a sac fly in her following at-bat.
Gilliland's homer contributed to her finishing with one hit, three RBIs and a walk. McCoy drove in two runs with her double, while Sarah Hinely saw a two-hit outing with one run scored and one RBI as the Skyhawks collected eight hits in the win.
Point added an insurance run in the fourth on Laura Fendley's RBI groundout, scoring Chelsey Hogsed for a 6-2 lead. That extra run mattered in the sixth, when Blue Mountain Christian trimmed the margin to three, but they were shut down the rest of the way behind a solid performance in the circle by Chloe Mitcham. Her stat line included four strikeouts on five hits in her seven innings worked.
All but one of the Skyhawks' eight hits were listed against the Toppers' starter Gail Wisher, who was pulled for reliever Jana Shaw after 2.2 innings.
Game Two:
The rematch was a pitcher's duel leading up to the fifth inning when things unraveled for the Skyhawks, allowing five runs on five hits along with one error. Blue Mountain Christian kicked things into high gear when Aspen Teague slashed a base-clearing triple to score two. She was brought home moments later on a Kelsey Camp double. Kendall Holbrook took the circle in relief, but not before an error on the basepaths led to two more Toppers crossing the plate.
It was a tough ending for Point starter Alyssa Burrows, who displayed shutdown pitching before the frame, striking out five. Holbrook went on to toss 2.2 innings, letting just one hit and no earned runs get past her.
Blue Mountain Christian would find another unearned run on an infield miscue in the sixth as their lead expanded to 6-0. They carried that the remainder of the way as Toppers pitcher Bri Langley finished her complete game with just three Skyhawk hits. The Point hitters who found success off her were Anna McMahan, Chelsey Hogsed and MaKenzie Gilliland.
Tomorrow represents the Skyhawks' second straight doubleheader with games at 1:00 and 3:00pm at West Point Park against University of Tennessee Southern.
