High Point belted out 12 hits and rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win the game, 8-4, and Big South Conference series over Liberty on Sunday afternoon at Coy O. Williard, Sr. Stadium.

The Panthers (13-14, 2-1 Big South) plated seven runs in the fifth and sixth innings to break things open in their series deciding contest against the Flames (16-10, 3-3).

Sophomore Jeff Cowan, who finished the weekend going 9-for-14 (.643) at the plate, was one of four HPU batters with a pair of hits on the day. Eight of nine High Point's starters tallied a hit with the squad's top four hitters combining for eight hits, six runs scored and five RBIs. Robby Kuzdale, Billy Alvino and Bill Manion joined Cowan with two hits.

Tommy Bussey put Liberty on top in the third inning, hitting a solo homer that caromed off the fair pole down the left field line to open the frame.

High Point knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth. Manion was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a single by Randy Schwartz. Eric Marion then singled Manion across the plate.

Liberty went back in front in the top of the fifth adding a pair of runs for a 3-1 advantage. Aaron Phillips drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Aaron Grijalva followed with an RBI double then scored when P.K. Keller reached on an error.

HPU answered with four runs of its own in the bottom of the frame to take a 5-3 lead. With one out, the Panthers tallied five consecutive hits starting with a double by Alfie Wheeler, followed by a single from Kuzdale, RBI-single by Cowan, run scoring single by Alvino and a Manion single. Schwartz drove in a run after getting aboard via an error and Williams plated the final run with a sacrifice fly to left.

"This was a great team effort," said HPU head coach Sal Bando, Jr. "We did a really good job of overcoming some critical mistakes in a close conference game, with walking the nine-hole and the error that led to a 3-1 lead for Liberty. The hitters responded and put up four. I'm proud of them. They did a good job."

The Panthers added three more runs in their next at-bat widening their margin to 8-3. Pablo Rosario led off with a single, moved to second on a passed ball and reached third on a sacrifice bunt by Wheeler. Kuzdale singled him home and scored himself on a double by Alvino. Manion then followed with an RBI single.

Tim Nanry led off the eighth with a solo homerun for Liberty to reach the final score.

Chad Jennings (2-1) pitched 2.1 innings of one-hit shut out relief to pick up the win for High Point. Brandon Moore worked 4.2 innings as the Panther starter and Tom Boleska pitched the final two frames for the HPU. Liberty starter Tyler Light (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season allowing five runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings on the mound.

High Point next opens a nine-game road swing with a pair of midweek contests at long-time Triad rivals UNC Greensboro (Tuesday, 6 p.m.) and Elon (Wednesday, 7 p.m.) before visiting Big South foe Radford next weekend.