Marc Tugwell collected three hits and Ryan Kennedy threw seven strong innings in his first collegiate start to lead Virginia Tech past High Point, 6-2, in baseball action Saturday afternoon at George S. Erath Field.

HPU drops to 3-8, while the Hokies improve to 2-1 on the season.

Tugwell gave Tech a 1-0 lead with a first-inning double, added a two-run single in the second inning, then singled and scored on Brad Bauder's double in the fourth inning.

Kennedy, a transfer from Florida, scattered seven hits and allowed his only run in the seventh inning. He struck out three batters and walked just one.

Trailing 6-0, the Panthers got on the board in the seventh on a two-out, RBI-single by shortstop Colin Cronin. The Panthers scored a run off Tech reliever Nicky Bowers in the eighth inning when center fielder Nick Thompson followed a pair of walks with a run-scoring single.

Thompson, catcher Mike Bruschuk and left-fielder Matt Gorman each contributed two hits to the Panthers' eight-hit total. High Point starting pitcher Matt Kniginyzky (0-3) lasted just four innings and took the loss.

The Panthers and Hokies meet Sunday at 1:00 pm in the series finale at Erath Field.