A pair of VMI hurlers kept the High Point bats at bay as the Panthers dropped their Big South Conference weekend finale to the Keydets, 9-2, on Sunday at Erath Field.

Despite the loss which snapped a four-game HPU win streak, the Panthers have still won nine of their last 11 games and own a 17-21 overall mark and an 8-4 record in conference play. VMI ended a six-game losing skid with the victory improving to 21-12 overall (3-6 Big South).

Unlike the first two days, it was VMI that got out of the gate quickly posting runs in each of the first three innings while the Panthers struggled a the plate against Keydet starter Trey Barham.

VMI plated single runs in both the first and second frames on groundouts before exploding for four runs in the third. Chad Rice led off the inning with a single and advanced to third after Kelly Sweppenhiser's fielder's choice was misplayed.  Robert Crumpler walked to load the bases in front of Jacoby Field's two-run single. HPU starter Tom Boleska retired the next two hitters but a triple by B.T. Good pushed across two more runs putting the Keydets on top, 6-0.

Barham cruised through the first six innings as the Panthers were able to mount only one series scoring threat in the second, when they had runners on second and third with one out. Boleska also settled down after the third inning facing just one batter over the minimum over the next three innings.

In the seventh, HPU reliever Paul Burch issued a leadoff walk to Rice that proved costly as VMI was able to move him around to score extending the lead to 7-0.

High Point answered in the bottom half of the inning with three straight singles by Ryan Laboy, Alfie Wheeler and Jeff Cowan plated the first Panther run.

The Keydets added a pair of runs in the ninth off Mark Shorey for their final run total. Laboy belted his first career homer in the bottom of the ninth concluding the scoring for the Panthers.

Barham improved to 5-2 on the year after scattering eight hits and just one earned run over 7.1 innings of work. Ian Casher pitched the final 1.2 innings for the Keydets. Boleska (2-6) took the loss for HPU working six innings and allowing seven hits and six runs, of which only two were earned. He walked three and struck out five.

At the plate, HPU got multi-hit games from Cowan, Shorey, Laboy and Wheeler. Cowan extended his season hit streak to 11 games while Laboy scored both of the Panther runs on the day. VMI All-American Sweppenhiser went 3-for-4 to lead the Keydets with Fields driving in a game-high four runs and Rice scoring three times.

High Point takes a brief break from its home stretch with a game on Tuesday at Triad-rival UNC Greensboro at 6 p.m. HPU returns home on Wednesday for a 3 p.m. tilt with Wofford before enjoying a weekend off for the Easter Holiday.