Western Carolina scored in the first six innings of the game and handed High Point a 14-4 non-conference loss Tuesday evening at Hennon Stadium. 

Leadoff hitter Nick Liles started the scoring in the contest driving a 2-1 pitch over the centerfield wall giving the Catamounts a 1-0 lead after an inning of play.

High Point quickly responded scoring in the top of the second which Bill Manion began with a single by off the pitcher and followed up by Kyle Mahoney being hit by a pitch.  Back-to-back fielder's choice groundouts allowed Manion to cross the plate and knot the game at one.

Western Carolina again took the lead in the bottom of the second inning.  Trevor Collias got hit by a pitch to begin the inning and stole second base.  An errant throw on a pick-off attempt sailed into centerfield moving him up to third.  Matt Johns drove in the run on a double to left-centerfield.  A great barehanded play by Jeff Cowan on a bunt attempt ended the inning.

The final tie of the game came in the third inning when the Panthers tied the game at 2-2.  Spencer Andrews singled through the right side and advanced to third on an Alfie Wheeler single to rightfield.  Cowan hit first pitch he saw past a diving third baseman to bring home Andrews, tying the game at 2-2.

Three straight singles by the Catamounts plated one run and put runners on first and second base, with those runners being sacrificed over to second and third, respectively to begin the third inning.  J.C. Lyons would double down the leftfield line to make it a 5-2 WCU advantage through three.

HPU tried to answer back like they have done so the previous two innings, but were unable to get the clutch hit.  Mahoney, Max Fulginiti and Murray White IV would all single loaded the bases with just one out.  Unfortunately pinch-hitter Rob Gilles would groundout into a double-play to end the threat.

The hosts would tack on nine more runs over the next three innings to take a commanding 14-2 lead after six innings.  Logan Bland would have a two-run double and RBI single while Lee Murray would have a RBI single and sacrifice fly in that stretch.  Lyons was the other Catamount to drive in a run in their run.

High Point would score the final two runs of the contest.  Mahoney doubled to left-centerfield and advanced to third on a wild pitch in the eighth.  Billy Alvino would single through the left side bringing home the first baseman.  Sal Pezzino would also single through the left side in the ninth inning plating Spencer Atwood who reached on a fielder's choice.

Andrews, Manion and Mahoney all had two hits apiece to lead the offense.  Cowan, Manion, Alvino and Fulginiti each drove in a run for the Panthers.  Mahoney extended his hitting streak to six games with his single in the fourth.  Mikel Rodenberg suffered the loss throwing four innings and giving up six runs (five earned) on seven hits.

Lyons and Brent Greer paced the Catamounts offense, both picking up three hits.  Bland, Lyons, Murray all had three RBI while Greer had two.  Corey Martin picked up the win tossing 1.2 innings of scoreless relief and Andrew Blackwell picked up the save giving up two runs (one earned) in four innings.

High Point finishes their road trip tomorrow, March 18, when it travels to Winston-Salem to take on intra-triad rival Wake Forest in a non-conference match-up at Hooks Stadium.  The two sides split their two match-ups last season with each winning their game on the road.  First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.