Box Score The High Point University baseball team grabbed an early lead but could not hold on in the series finale at College of Charleston, as the Panthers fell 9-3 on Sunday afternoon at Patriots Point Field.
HPU slips to 2-4 on the year with the loss while the Cougars remain perfect at 3-0 after sweeping the weekend set against High Point.
After giving up a run in the bottom of the first, High Point answered with a run of its own in top of the second as Randy Schwartz scored on an RBI single by J. Williams after getting aboard on a CofC fielding error.
The Panthers took a 3-1 lead in the third on a two-run homer to right center by Mark Shorey, his first of the season.
In the fifth, the Cougars tied the game when Chris Campbell notched a two-run single. After a wild pitch moved Larry Cobb to third and Campbell to second, Alex Garabedian gave the Cougars the lead for good at 4-3 when his ground out to short plated Cobb.
Charleston stretched its lead to 6-3 in the fifth with a pair of runs. The Cougars got a sacrifice fly from Jess Easterling and a two-run single by Michael Harrington in the seventh for the final margin.
"I felt like we played a little bit better today," said HPU head coach Sal Bando, Jr. "I was much prouder of our effort. Charleston is a very talented team and they are extremely tough at home. Nolan Mulligan pitched well enough to give us a chance but we just couldn't get it done. We have to continue to work hard and get ready to play again this week."
Wes Braden (1-0) picked up the win surrendering just five hits and three runs, two earned. He walked none and struck out two. Nolan Mulligan (0-1), making his Panther debut, suffered the loss allowing six runs on 11 hits over the first 5 2/3 innings. Chris Norwood led the Panthers with two hits in four at bats.
High Point continues its season opening 11-game road swing on Wednesday when the Panthers visit Wofford at 4 p.m. HPU closes the week with a three-game set at Furman starting with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m.
