Kevin Burch went the distance for High Point on the mound, holding Big East foe Virginia Tech to four runs in nine innings, but the Panther bats sputtered and the Hokies won the finale of a two-game series, 4-0, Sunday afternoon at Erath Field.

The Panthers drop to 3-9 on the season, while Tech improves to 3-1.

Burch (1-2) scattered nine hits over nine innings and didn't allow an earned run, but sloppy defense and the 1-2 punch of Tech pitchers Josh Bieber (1-0) and Mike Crisci conspired to shut the Panthers down offensively and the Hokies swept the two-game weekend series.

The game was scoreless until the Hokies put two runs on the board in the top of the fourth. With one out, centerfielder Brad Bauder scored on an error by HPU second baseman Rey Rojas, and on the next play a single by shortstop Spencer Harris scored Tech catcher Jed English.

The Hokies got their other two runs off Burch in the seventh. Harris reached on an error by Panther shortstop Colin Cronin, and went to second when the throw reached the dugout. He went to third on a flyout by rightfielder Matt Kalish and scored on a sacrifice fly by leftfielder Sheldon Adams. Later in the inning, third baseman Chris Stanton would score on an RBI single by designated hitter Wyatt Toregas.

Bieber (1-0) allowed four hits in seven innings in his first appearance of the season. Crisci struck out three hitters in two innings of work.

HPU centerfielder Nick Thompson went 2-for-3 to lead the Panthers at the plate. Rojas, leftfielder Matt Gorman, and rightfielder Chris Draska collected the other hits for the Panthers.

High Point is at UNC Wilmington Tuesday afternoon for a 3:00 pm start, and returns home for a weekend series with Buffalo beginning Friday at 3:00 pm.