The High Point baseball scored four runs in the eighth inning to rally past UNC Asheville, 9-8 in a Big South Conference contest at McCormick Field Saturday evening.

The Panthers (22-20, 8-6 Big South) pounded out 15 hits in their third straight come-from-behind win of the week. The loss was UNCA's third in a row dropping the Bulldogs to 17-26 overall and 7-7 in the conference.

Randy Schwartz and Robby Kuzdale paced the Panther attack with three hits each. The Bulldogs were led at the plate by Rob Vernon who went 4-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored.

The Panthers trailed 8-5 entering the top of the eighth but rallied for four runs after two were out. Asheville reliever Justin Schumer (0-1) allowed singles to Schwartz and Billy Alvino to open the frame before getting two outs. Matt Schlanger singled in one run to cut the lead to 8-6. Alfie Wheeler followed with another run-scoring single to cut the lead to 8-7.

Asheville brought on reliever Andrew Alexander. Kuzdale then singled in the tying run to make it 8-8. The ball got by Vernon in left-field allowing Wheeler to score the winning run.

High Point used three pitchers in the eighth to shut the Bulldogs down. HPU closer Tom Boleska earned his sixth save of the season and second of the series after striking out a pair in a scoreless ninth.

HPU jumped in front with a run in the first inning on a run-scoring single from Bill Manion.

Asheville answered with three runs in the bottom of the first. Matt Henson walked with one out. He tied the game on Vernon's run-scoring double. Locklear followed with another run-scoring double to put the Bulldogs in front, 2-1. A walk and an error loaded the bases. Elliott Arrington's run-scoring single scored Locklear for a 3-1 Asheville lead.

The Panthers cut the lead to 3-2 in the second on Pablo Rosario's solo homer.

The Bulldogs came back with three more runs in the bottom of the second. Kevin Mattison singled to lead off the inning. He went to second on a sacrifice bunt. Vernon drove in his second run of the day on a run-scoring single to push the lead to 4-2. Locklear doubled Vernon to third and that ended the day for High Point starter Bubba O'Donnell.

Williams greeted reliever Chad Jennings with a two-run double to left pushing the Bulldog advantage to 6-2. Jennings worked the next four innings allowing just two runs allowing HPU the opportunity to rally.

Kuzdale scored a run in the third to close the deficit to 6-3. Asheville's Matt Henson scored on a wild pitch in the fourth to make it 7-3.

The Bulldogs added another run in the sixth inning as Vernon singled with one out. He went to second on a wild pitch. Williams plated him with a two-out double down the left-field line to pad the lead to 8-5.

Zach Scott (2-1) earned the win for High Point after pitching a perfect seventh inning.

UNC Asheville and High Point finish their three-game series Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.