Chris Chandler worked the final four innings -- his longest appearance of the season -- to help High Point hold onto a 10-8 victory over homestanding Appalachian State Tuesday afternoon in Boone.
The victory gave the Panthers (23-24), who have won four of five, a season-sweep of their in-state rivals from the Southern Conference.
Chandler was nearly flawless, allowing two hits and striking out two en route to his ninth save of the season.
Prior to a 40-minute rain delay midway through the sixth, the first three Appalachian batters of the inning reached to load the bases. Chandler inherited the jam following the delay and escaped with just two runs scored.
High Point used home runs to strike in both the third and fourth innings. Ryan Thiede's three-run blast over the left-center field fence gave High Point a 3-1 advantage.
After Jayson Hoffman was forced to score on a bases-loaded walk and a fielder's choice on an attempted double play scored Matt Richardson, Andy Harney's three-run home run to center field, capped a five-run fourth inning and gave High Point an 8-4 lead.
Although the Mountaineers (16-31) struck in their first chance at the plate, they squandered a chance to add to the early 1-0 lead by ending the frame with the bases loaded. After scoring three runs in the third to retake the lead at 4-3, they left the bases full again. The Mountaineers ended the contest with 12 runners left on-base.
Derek Smith went 5-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored for the Mountaineers.
Smith knocked an RBI single in the first inning that brought home Graham Thompson. The Mountaineers loaded the bases with none out in the third for Geoff Brooks who singled down the right field line. Brooks's hit brought home two runs and knotted the score, at 3-3. Brooks Haislip's single plated Tim Johnson to give the Mountaineers a 4-3 advantage.
Following the Panthers' five-run outburst in the fourth, the Mountaineers scored two runs in the bottom half of the fourth. Eric Pittman registered a leadoff walk and Smith doubled. Pittman scored courtesy of a sacrifice fly by Tim Johnson. Smith scored later on a groundout to make it an 8-6 contest.
Harney added a single in the sixth inning that scored John Cavanaugh and pushed the High Point lead to 9-6. Cavanaugh reached base after being hit by pitch and advanced to scoring position courtesy of a wild pitch by David Batten.
The Mountaineers narrowed the margin to one run, at 9-8, in the sixth inning, but could come no closer.
High Point entertains Furman Wednesday afternoon at 3:00.
