The High Point University baseball team suffered a heartbreaking 5-4 loss at Coastal Carolina on Friday afternoon in the Big South Conference opener for both squads.

The Panthers, who fall to 7-17 overall (0-1 Big South) including a seven-game losing skid, led for most of the day until a ninth-inning rally by the Chanticleers (6-12, 1-0) have the home team the series opening victory.

The game was a pitcher's dual over the first five innings before High Point broke through with two runs in the sixth. J. Williams singled with two outs. After an infield single put runners on first and second, Billy Aguiar cleared them with a double down the left field line, putting HPU in front 2-0.

In the seventh, pinch hitter Jon Pavlack walked with the bases loaded to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead. Coastal got that run back in the seventh as Mike Fuentes singled and moved to second on an error. Pinch hitter Matt Sutton then singled up the middle to score Fuentes.

The games ninth inning heroics were preceded by a wild eighth inning. With one out, CCU junior Brant Peacher singled. He moved to second on a walk to junior John Mariotti and a fielder's choice by sophomore Tommy Baldridge put runners on the corners with two outs. Aaron Verrett then singled to score Peacher. High Point right fielder Mark Shorey mishandled the single, then threw the ball away, allowing Baldridge to score and tying the game at three. DJ Burns followed with a single to plate Verrett, giving CCU a 4-3 lead.

High Point tied the game at four in the top of the ninth. A walk to Randy Schwartz opened the inning. He went to second on a bunt single from Alfie Wheeler. After a sacrifice, Ryan Laboy grounded out to score pinch runner Matt Christie.

With one out in the ninth, Josh Eachues walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Peacher then grounded to third, but a wild throw put runners on second and third. Tyler Bortnick then won the game for the Chants recording a two-out base hit, in his first collegiate at-bat.

Mariotti earned the win for Coastal, going an inning of relief with one hit and one strikeout. Mike Valter had a solid start, pitching 6.1 innings with six hits, three strikeouts and three earned runs. The loss was charged to Brandon Moore, who gave up the come-from-behind run in the ninth. Sophomore Eammon Portice tallied his longest start of the year going 7.2 innings, striking out seven and allowing only two earned runs.

Verrett and junior Adam Vrable had two hits apiece for Coastal. For High Point, Chris Marks had two hits and Aguiar drove in a pair.

Coastal and High Point will meet again Saturday at 2 p.m. in the second game of the three-game series.