High Point scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to rally past UNC Asheville for a 3-2 victory in the series opener on Friday night at Coy O. Williard Sr. Stadium.

The Panthers (6-18, 1-3 Big South) picked up their first Big South Conference win of the year after rallying for the first time when trailing after seven innings. UNC Asheville fell to 12-15 overall and 0-1 in league play.

High Point had just one hit through the first seven innings of play against Asheville starter Alan DeRatt, before tallying four hits in the decisive eighth inning.

UNCA interrupted a pitchers' duel in the fourth with a pair of runs taking a 2-0 lead. Reed Kreiser drew a two-out walk and then scored on a double to the right field gap by Justin Schumer. Brett Robinson followed with a walk in front of an RBI single for Danny Baatz.

The Bulldogs looked to add to their lead in the top of the seventh. Asheville loaded the bases with one out before HPU reliever Jeremy Berg entered the game and retired the next two batters while stranding all three runners. For the game, UNC Asheville left 11 runners on base.

The Panthers finally got to DeRatt in the eighth when Robby Kuzdale doubled home Max Fulginiti. Alfie Wheeler then doubled to end DeRatt's night. Jeff Cowan followed with a single off UNCA reliever Ben Buchanan, who also surrendered an RBI double to Pablo Rosario and the game winning sacrifice fly by Billy Alvino.

Berg (1-1) picked up the win for High Point finishing with 1.2 innings of one-hit relief. Senior Bubba O'Donnell earned his second consecutive save pitching a scoreless ninth inning. HPU starter Ryan Basham went 6.1 innings on the night allowing just two runs while recording a season-high seven strikeouts.

DeRatt scattered three hits over 7.1 innings of work and gave up two runs for Asheville, while Buchanan (0-5) suffered the loss after allowing a run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning in relief.

Rosario led the Panthers at the plate with two hits, including the lone hit of the first seven frames, and had the game-tying RBI. Kevin Wiedenbacher and Schumer each tallied three hits for the Bulldogs in a loss.
 
High Point and Asheville continue their Big South Conference weekend series on Saturday at 7 p.m. The pair concludes the three-game set at 2 p.m. on Sunday.