After moving the start back a day because of weather, High Point dropped a disappointing 6-2 decision to UNC Asheville on Saturday in the Big South series opener between the two in-state rivals.

The Panthers suffered their second straight loss slipping to 19-23 overall and 8-5 in Big South action while the win snapped a five-game conference skid for the Bulldogs who improved to 5-8 in league play (16-22 overall).

The game featured a pair of strong pitching performances from the starters as both HPU's Eammon Portice and UNCA's Alan DeRatt worked into the seventh inning.

Asheville grabbed an early lead scoring two runs in the second and another in the third to take a 3-0 advantage. High Point had chances to match the Bulldogs in the first couple of frames but struggled to get a timely hit while leaving five runners on base in the first three innings.

After Portice set UNCA down in order in the first, the Bulldogs Johnny Martinez led off the second with a single to left. John Whited followed with a double to left moving Martinez to third. Edmond Locklear then pushed a grounder through the right side to plate the first Asheville run. The next batter, Steven Burnish, delivered a well executed sacrifice bunt scoring Whited from third.

In the bottom of the second, HPU had runners on second and third with one out before DeRatt posted a pair of stikeouts to end the threat.

UNCA added a run in the third as Kevin Mattison doubled to start the inning and moved to third on a groundout to the rightside of the infield. Mattison then score on a passed ball charged to HPU catcher Justin Pinyan.

The Panthers had runners on second and third again in the third but could not deliver the run scoring hit as UNCA escaped another HPU threat.

Portice settled down in the fourth as the sophomore standout allowed just one hit over the next four innings of work while keeping the Bulldogs off the scoreboard.

HPU finally got on the board in the fourth as Randy Schwartz doubled to start the frame and moved to third on a Dustin Holtzman groundout and scored on an RBI groundout by Pinyan. The Panthers closed the gap to 3-2 in the sixth when J. Williams tripled and scored on a Holtzman RBI-single.

In the HPU seventh, Alfie Wheeler led off with a single and moved to second on a walk drawn by Jeff Cowan. Chris Norwood followed with a fielder's choice that moved Wheeler to third. With runners on the corners and one out Mark Shorey, the Big South's leading hitter, stepped to the plate to face UNCA freshman reliever Jordan Dorsett. Dorsett won the battle striking out Shorey. Asheville closer Ben Buchanan then replaced Dorsett on the mound and induced an inning-ending groundout to quelch the HPU rally.

Asheville had runners on the corners in the eighth but reliever Bubba O'Donnell kept the Bulldogs off the board by getting pinch hitter Nathan Durham to groundout.

UNCA eventually got their insurance runs plating three runs on four hits against O'Donnell in the top of the ninth. Buchanan picked up his fifth save of the year setting the Panthers down in order over the final two innings.

DeRatt (3-3) pitched 6.1 innings while scattering nine hits and allowing just two runs en route to the victory. Portice worked seven innings giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits with five strikeouts.

Norwood and Holtzman both went 2-for-4 on the day to lead the High Point offense. Cowan singled in the first inning to extend his hit streak to a team season best 15 games.

Mattison, Steve Burnish and Matt Henson each tallied two hits to pace Asheville, with Mattison scoring twice and also driving in a run.

High Point and UNC Asheville will play game two of their three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Erath Field. HPU junior Matt Christie takes the hill against the Bulldog lefty Chris Nigro.