The High Point University baseball team rallied with four runs in the final two innings to earn a 7-4 series-clinching victory over Big Ten opponent Penn State on Sunday afternoon at Coy O. Williard Sr., Stadium.

The Panthers (2-1) trailed 4-1 in the fourth inning before slowly battling back and getting some timely hits in the eighth to defeat the Nittany Lions (1-2) and capture the season-opening three-game set.

High Point got a pair of hits from Chris Norwood, Randy Schwartz and Pablo Rosario en route to the come from behind victory. Senior Bubba O'Donnell allowed 10 hits in six innings on the mound but limited the damage to just four runs after striking out 12. A trio of Panther relievers combined to work three shutout innings of relief in the comeback.

Penn State finished with 11 hits on the day with all nine starters recording a hit, but eight of the nine batters also collected a strikeout in the game as well.

"It was a great team effort today," said HPU head coach Sal Bando, Jr. "I was just really proud of the guys. Our three guys out of the bullpen had just one hit and no walks. We just threw a lot of strikes this weekend and when we do that we're gonna give our offense a chance. That's exactly what happened today. We hung around and battled through a few innings and got a nice come from behind win over a pretty good team."

PSU struck first plating a run in the opening frame when Rob Yodice singled in Landon Nakata, who recorded a one-out double. Following a double from Joe Blackburn, O'Donnell fanned the next two Penn State hitters stranding a pair of runners in scoring position. The Nittany Lions scored again in the second on back-to-back doubles by Rick Marlin and Scott Kelly, before watching O'Donnell strike out the side.

HPU cut their deficit to 2-1 with a run of their own in the bottom of the second inning. Schwartz belted a one-out triple to centerfield and scored on an RBI groundout to short by Max Fulginiti. After a quiet third inning, Penn State scored a pair of runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. The Nittany Lions put a runner on first after a misplayed bunt and had a pair of runners in scoring position after a double by Brian Ernst. Nakata singled home both runs.

The Panthers got one run back in the bottom of the frame. Billy Alvino singled and moved to second on a Schwartz single. Fulginiti advanced both runners with a groundout and Alvino crossed the plate when Alfie Wheeler reached base on a throwing error by the Penn State third baseman.

High Point inched closer with another run in the fifth as Rosario led of the inning with double and went to third on a single by Robby Kuzdale. Norwood lifted a ball to centerfield allowing Rosario to score on a sacrifice fly to make the score 4-3. HPU tied the game at 4 with a run in the seventh. The Panthers drew three straight two-out walks against PSU reliever Calvin Grumley. Paul Hawkins replaced Grumley and proceeded to hit the first batter he faced, Alvino, with a pitch pushing across the tying run.

In the eighth, Fulginiti led things off for High Point with a single. He went to second on a bunt attempt by Wheeler that resulted in a throwing error by Hawkins to second. Eric Marion reached on another fielder's choice bunt that erased Fulginiti off the base paths at third. Rosario singled home a run then Norwood plated two with a double for the final scores.

R.J. Chlebnikow completed a three up, three down ninth inning to earn the first save of his career for High Point. Jamie Serber (1-0) worked 1.2 innings to get the victory. Hawkins (0-1) was charged with the loss after allowing three runs in 1.1 innings of relief for the Nittany Lions.
 
High Point concludes their season-opening home stand on Tuesday against Campbell before visiting No. 16 Clemson on Wednesday in their first road contest of the year.