High Point out-hit Charlotte, 9-8, but the homestanding 49ers made the most of their opportunities and took an 8-4 win in the opener of a three-game series Friday afternoon at Tom and Lib Phillips Field.

The Panthers drop to 2-6, while Charlotte improves to 3-2.

The 49ers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead when Marko Little and Nick Blackmon were both hit by pitches with the bases loaded in the first inning.

High Point tied the score, 2-2, with two runs on three hits in the second inning. Ken Keesee led off the inning with a home run over the left field wall. Then Kemp Smith, who doubled down the left field line, scored on a Nick Thompson single to left field for the inning's other run.

Charlotte regained the lead, 3-2, when Brad Lamm scored his second run of the game on Randall Poplin's two-out single to center field in the second inning.

The 49ers increased their lead to 6-2 with three runs on two hits in the fourth inning. Thomas Bowker, who led off the inning with a double off the left field wall, scored the inning's first run on a Brad Lamm single to right field. Then George Sandel and Lamm scored the inning's other two runs on a High Point throwing error.

High Point cut the Charlotte in half with a couple runs on four hits in the sixth inning. Keesee and Thompson each scored after reaching base with doubles in the inning.

Charlotte added two more runs on three hits in the seventh inning making the final score, 8-4.

"We're not out for moral victories," High Point head coach Sal Bando, Jr., said. "We may have won the offensive battle, but they pitched better and definitely played better defensively. I thought this was our best game at the plate so far.

"It seems like in every loss this season we've had one inning where we've self-destructed, and it's cost us the game every time."

The series continues Saturday at noon.