High Point out-hit visiting Winthrop, 8-7, but the Eagles made their hits count and downed the Panthers, 7-1, Sunday afternoon on Senior Day at Erath Field.

The Eagles improve to 32-19 (13-4 Big South), while the Panthers drop to 13-36 (4-12).

Winthrop got on the board with two runs in the top of the 4th off HPU starter Matt Kniginyzky (1-9). Matt Matkovich's two out single scored Kyle Duff and Matt Repec to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.

The Eagles pushed across three unearned runs in the top of the 6th. Bennett Stapf's suicide squeeze scored David Scoggin, and Repec's two-out double brought home Jacob Dempsey and Duff for a 5-0 advantage.

The Panthers missed their best chance to get over the hump in the bottom of the inning. High Point loaded the bases with nobody out off Winthrop starter Mike Honce (5-1), but reliever Chase Edwards got Ken Keesee to foul out, struck out Nick Thompson and got Mark Shorey to ground out to end the threat.

HPU scored its run in the 8th on a Matt Christie single which scored Anthony Bell.

Winthrop added a pair in the 9th off HPU reliever Chris Hyatt to complete the scoring.

Edwards threw four innings of relief for his first save of the year.

Coupled with Elon's 5-3 loss to UNC Asheville, the win moves the Eagles a game ahead of Elon for first place in the Big South.

HPU can still qualify for the Big South Tournament with a sweep of Liberty next weekend and at least one Radford loss against Winthrop. The League's top six teams earn spots in the tournament, held May 21-25 in Rock Hill, S.C.

The Panthers visit Wake Forest Wednesday afternoon (1:30 pm) for a midweek contest.