High Point got back on track with a 4-3 win over in-state rival Gardner-Webb Wednesday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at Varsity Field in Boiling Springs.

The Panthers snapped a four-game skid and improve to 5-19, while the Bulldogs dipped to 11-14.

The Panthers took advantage of three GWU errors and used a few timely hits to erase a 3-1 deficit.

Gardner-Webb took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Matt Bridges doubled to lead off the inning, then scored on a passed ball for an early 1-0 lead. Joey Testa then singled home Billy McCarson for a 2-0 edge off of High Point starter Phil Leake.

The Panthers broke the ice in the top of the fourth to get on the board against Bulldog ace Joey Siak. Chris Ramirez singled to left with one out in the frame, then moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt at first base. Ramirez would score moments later on a GWU fielding error to cut the lead to 2-1.

A triple to center by Testa to lead off the fifth put the hosts back in business, as he later scored on a double to left center by Sammy Styers to push the lead to 3-1.

The Panthers' Corey Stang began the High Point comeback with a leadoff double. Anthony Bell then turned on a full-count fastball and tripled to center field to plate Stang and cut Gardner-Webb's lead to 3-2. Nick Thompson then laced a single to right to drive in Bell, and the score was tied 3-3 before Siak could recover and end the inning with a strikeout.

High Point benefited from some tough breaks for the home squad to take its lead in the top of the eighth, as Rey Rojas led off with a high chopper that just cleared the Gardner-Webb third baseman ­ and reached second after beating the Bulldog outfielder's throw to second base. A wild pitch by GWU reliever Zach Ward didn't get far away from catcher Jim Glueckert during the next at bat, but Rojas took off for third base ­- and scored when Glueckert's attempt to throw him out sailed into left field, giving High Point its second unearned run of the day and a lead it would not give up.

Gardner-Webb put a pair of runners on board in the bottom of the eighth with no outs, but High Point reliever Mark Shorey got a fly ball for the first out and coaxed McCarson into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning -­- and the Bulldogs would not get a runner past first base in the ninth to fall victim to HPU's rally.

Leake earned his first win of the year and scattered eight hits in 7.0 innings of work. Shorey picked up his second save with two scoreless innings of relief.

Ward (0-2) was the hard luck loser despite striking out three with no walks or earned runs in two innings of relief. Siak worked seven innings and allowed two earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts.

Ramirez (2-for-4, run) and Thompson (2-for-3, RBI) led High Point's seven-hit attack at the plate, while Gardner-Webb's eight-hit effort was paced by Testa (2-for-4, run, RBI) and Styers (2-for-4, RBI).

HPU visits Winthrop this weekend for a three-game Big South Conference series beginning Friday at 6:00 pm.

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