Following a two hour and three minute rain delay the High Point University baseball team dropped a hard-fought 6-5 decision to Triad-rival UNC Greensboro on Wednesday night at Coy O. Williard Sr. Stadium.

The Panthers slipped to 4-14 on the year while UNCG improved to 12-5 after earning their fourth straight victory.

HPU mustered just four hits on the night in scoring five runs but got a pair of RBI from junior catcher Billy Alvino. A trio of Spartan hitters recorded multiple hits led by Adam Deleo, who produced a 2-for-5 outing with three RBI.

The Spartans wasted little time getting on the board scoring three runs in the top of the first. HPU starter Zach Scott (0-4) walked in the first run after hitting a pair of batters and allowing a single to load the bases. Deleo drove in UNCG's other two runs with a one-out single ending the night for Scott.

High Point answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the frame. Robby Kuzdale, who started the game with a walk, scored on an RBI single from Alvino. In the second, HPU made a second straight inning-opening walk pay off as Chris Norwood singled home Max Fulginiti to make the score 3-2.

UNC Greensboro added a pair of runs in the third using back-to-back doubles from Greg Feltes and Sean Snell and a RBI single for Deleo extending their lead to 5-2.

The Panthers trimmed their deficit to one run (5-4) rallying with a pair of scores in the fifth. Kyle Mahoney led the frame off with a walk and moved to third on a single by Alfie Wheeler. Kuzdale then grounded a ball that was mishandled by the Spartan shortstop allowing him to reach base and Mahoney to score. With the bases loaded, Alvino plated another run with an RBI fielder's choice to short.

UNCG manufactured a run in the sixth inning upping their lead to 6-4. Drew Gehringer notched a one-out single and stole second. A groundout moved him to third and he then scored on a balk by HPU reliever Mike Caldwell.

HPU got a run back in the bottom half of the sixth as Norwood drew a one-out walk and eventually scored following a pair of wild pitches sandwiched around a fielder's choice groundout to make the score 6-5.

The Spartans had the opportunity to tack on an insurance run in each of the last three innings but left a runner stranded on third base in each frame.

A quartet of High Point relief pitchers held the Spartans to just one run on two hits over the final six innings of play. Caldwell worked three innings. RJ Chlebnikow followed with a pair of strikeouts, Jeremy Berg pitched one and a third innings of perfect relief and Bubba O'Donnell posted a shutout frame in the ninth.

UNCG's relief staff was also effective allowing just one hit over the final five innings. Alex Shelton (2-1) earned the victory with one an two third innings of work while Rob Gilliam earned his first save of the season after recording the final five outs of the game.

High Point next hosts VMI in its Big South Conference opening series this weekend. The Panthers and Keydets are scheduled to play a single game on Friday at 7 p.m. followed by a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.