High Point scored seven runs on seven hits in handing Triad-rival North Carolina A&T a 7-4 loss on Thursday night at Coy O. Williard Sr. Stadium.

The Panthers (5-18) opened their four-game home stand with a victory that snapped a five-game losing skid and gave HPU a split with the Aggies (10-13) in their season series.

Sophomore Max Fulginiti was the lone High Point player with multiple hits on the night, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. On the mound, Corey Swickle earned his first win of the season after allowing just two hits in three innings of solid relief work.

A&T starter Jon Smith (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering five runs on five hits with five walks over 2.1 innings of work. Nick Rogers led the Aggies with a pair of hits including his second homer of the season.

The Aggies put a run on the board in the top of the first as Nick Mayo, who walked to start the game, scored on a sacrifice fly by Jeremy Jones for a 1-0 lead. North Carolina A&T added two more runs in the second including a leadoff homer to left by Rogers.

The Panthers clawed back into the game in the bottom of the second trimming their deficit to 3-2 with a pair of runs. Jeff Cowan drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly followed by an RBI single by Pablo Rosario.

High Point added three runs in the third to earn their first lead of the game, 5-3. Norwood laced a one-out triple and Tucker Stobbe followed with a walk. Stobbe, moving on a ball in the dirt, drew a throw to second base allowing Norwood to steal home safely. A&T's attempt to throw out Norwood sailed wide as Stobbe moved to third on the play. Alfie Wheeler drew a walk putting runners on the corners. Max Fulginiti slapped an RBI single to left scoring Stobbe and moving Wheeler to third. A perfectly executed double-steal saw Wheeler swipe home for the third run of the frame.

CJ Beatty led off the Aggie fifth inning with a single and scored on a RBI single by Neil Rosser to cut the Panther lead to one, 5-4.

HPU extended their lead to 7-4 in the sixth inning taking advantage of a pair of walks, a fielding error and a balk to produce a pair of scores. Cowan and Randy Schwartz scored the two Panther runs in the frame.

RJ Clebnikow, Jamie Serber and Jeremy Berg combined for three innings of scoreless relief for the Panthers and senior Bubba O'Donnell pitched a perfect ninth to close the game and earn his first save of the year.
 
High Point continues its current home stand with a three-game Big South Conference series against UNC Asheville beginning on Friday at 7 p.m.