The High Point University baseball team fell 12-3 to No. 13-ranked Clemson on Wednesday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in the squad's first road contest of 2008.

The Panthers (3-2) surrendered seven walks and allowed four homeruns against a solid Tiger (4-0) offense.

Seven Clemson pitchers contributed to the win without walking a batter. Craig Gullickson (1-0) earned his first career win, allowing four hits and one unearned in 3.0 innings pitched in a starting role. Zach Scott (0-1) pitched 3.0 innings as well, giving up six runs on eight hits to take the loss.

A quartet of HPU batters recorded two hits each including Jeff Cowan, Randy Schwartz, Max Fulginiti and Alfie Wheeler. The Panthers sent five pitchers to the mound on the day.

Ben Paulsen went 2-for-2 with a three-run homer and four RBIs to lead Clemson's 14-hit attack. Wilson Boyd added a three-run homer and went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and Stan Widmann also went 3-for-4 with three runs scored for the Tigers.

Clemson took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. Widmann and Boyd led off with back-to-back singles. With one out, Paulsen hit a three-run shot to left-center.

The Panthers scratched one run in the second thanks to a Tiger miscue. Schwartz singled to third base and Fulginiti followed with a double down the left-field line. With two outs, Pablo Rosario was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Schwartz then scored when Robby Kuzdale's grounder to third was mishandled.

The Tigers added three more runs in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, J.D. Burgess doubled to left-center and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Widmann then doubled down the left-field line to plate Burgess. Boyd drew a walk and Doug Hogan followed with a double down the left-field line to score Widmann. Paulsen then hit a sacrifice fly down the left-field line to score Boyd and put the Tigers on top 6-1.

After three scoreless innings, High Point plated another run in the sixth inning, as Cowan scored on Wheeler's single to right field making the score 6-2.

Clemson broke things open in the seventh after scoring six runs. Kyle Parker led off the seventh inning for the Tigers with a solo shot to left-center. Burgess and Widmann followed with back-to-back singles to left field. Boyd then lifted a three-run, opposite-field homer to left field to put the Tigers up 10-2. Paulsen followed with a single up the middle and John Nester added a two-run homer to left field for the 12-2 lead.

The Panthers scored one run in the ninth inning for the final count. Wheeler led off the frame with a single to center and moved to third on a double to left field by Drew Geissinger. Kuzdale plated Wheeler with a ground ball to third.

High Point next returns to the diamond this weekend with a three-game series against the University of Dayton beginning on Friday at 4 p.m., from Coy O. Williard Sr. Stadium.