WEST POINT, Ga. – Playing a non-conference doubleheader away from home on Wednesday with the Point University Skyhawks, the Southern Polytechnic State University baseball team extended its winning streak to a season-best nine games with a 12-3 victory before suffering a 4-0 loss at the West Point Park Baseball Field. Southern Polytechnic is ranked 17th nationally in this week's NAIA coaches' poll.
In the first of two seven-inning contests, Southern Poly scored twice in the first inning and once second for a 3-0 lead. Point got a run in the bottom of the second inning but the Hornets increased their advantage to 5-1 in the third. The Skyhawks tallied a single run in each of the third and fourth innings, making it a 5-3 game, before SPSU took control with a four-run fifth. The guests concluded the scoring with two runs in the sixth inning and another run in the seventh.
Southern Poly collected 15 hits and 21 total bases while Point had eight and nine, respectively. The Skyhawks were guilty of four errors and the Hornets two. There were 23 runners left on base, including 13 by SPSU.
Offensively for the winners, Tremayne Hardin ended 3-for-4 with a triple, a walk, two RBIs and two runs scored while Darius Reese was 3-for-5 with a double, three runs scored and an RBI. Tyler Garner went 2-for-2 with a hit-by-pitch and an RBI while Chris Dykes finished 2-for-3 with two bases on balls, driving in one run and scoring another. Khirus Ware homered, walked, knocked in three runs and scored on two occasions in a 2-for-4 performance while Matt Miller recorded two hits in five at-bats. Dalton Martinez singled, drew a walk, picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly and scored once.
In the pitching department, Southern Poly freshman Michael Maiocco started and went three innings, yielding three hits and one earned run with four strikeouts and two walks. Teigh Dooley was credited with the win after going one inning with no walks while Blake Barrow also threw an inning, giving up no runs and no bases on balls. Forrest Garrett struck out one, allowing one hit and one walk over two shutout innings.
Point pushed across a single run in each inning of the second contest except the third and sixth in handing the Hornets their third shutout loss of the year.
The Skyhawks outhit their visitors 10-5 with SPSU making the game's lone error. Point stranded nine base runners and Southern Poly seven.
Garner was 1-for-2 with a walk for the Hornets while Miller, Reese, Ware and Tyler Roach each ended 1-for-3.
Colton Kinnamon was the starting and losing pitcher for SPSU after surrendering one earned run with three strikeouts over two innings. Alex Ridge struck out two and walked one in three innings of work before Troy Herterick tossed one scoreless inning with a strikeout and no walks.
Southern Poly is 33-15 overall while the Skyhawks are 22-22. The Hornets are on the road to face the Spring Hill College Badgers in a Southern States Athletic Conference matchup this Friday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Central time (7 p.m. Eastern) in Mobile, Ala.
