Wake Forest capitalized on an error in the sixth inning which led to three unearned runs (four runs) to cross the plate as they would rally to defeat High Point 6-5 in a non-conference match-up at Wake Forest Baseball Field Wednesday night.

High Point (5-10) jumped out to an early lead posting a pair of runs in the first inning.  Spencer Andrews singled up the middle, followed by a walk to Sal Pezzino, Jeff Cowan single and Bill Manion RBI single to start the game.  A double-play groundout forced Pezzino out at home, but advanced Manion and Cowan to second and third, respectively.  Cowan would cross the plate on a wild pitch, giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead after one.

A couple of defensive plays by HPU in the second inning limited the Demon Deacons to just a lone run.  A hit by pitch and walk began the inning and both runners moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt.  Austin Stadler reached on a fielder's choice when Mike Caldwell picked the ball up and spun around to get the WFU runner out at the plate.  A balk by Caldwell allowed Weldon Woodall to score, cutting into the Panther lead, 2-1.  A diving catch by Manion in left-centerfield ended the inning.

The two teams would exchange runs in the fourth inning after a scoreless third for both sides.  Kyle Mahoney was hit by a pitch to start the inning and advanced to second on a passed ball.  Max Fulginiti drove in his sixth run of the season on a single up the middle.

For Wake Forest (9-8), Carlos Lopez tripled to centerfield and scored on a Shane Kroker single through the left side.

Both teams would score in the sixth, but the Demon Deacons would take the lead in the bottom half.  Murray White IV walked to start the inning and stole second base.  He would advance to third on a groundout, then score on a wild pitch.

Helped by a defensive miscue, WFU would score four runs (three unearned) to take their first lead which would hold.  Mike Murray would draw a walk and move up to second on a single by Woodall.  An error on the next play would load the bases.  Stadler would single in the first run of the inning, making it a 4-3 ballgame.  A wild pitch would plate Woodall before a Steven Brooks would knock in the go-ahead runs.

The Panthers made things interesting in the eighth starting with Mahoney being hit by a pitch and back-to-back walks to White and Fulginiti.  Billy Alvino would drive a pitch to the warning track, good enough for a sacrifice fly allowing Mahoney to score and White to advance to third.  The next batter struck out for the final out of the inning thwarting the rally.  HPU would go down in order in the ninth.

Cowan and Andrews both had a pair of hits while White drew two walks and Mahoney scored two runs.   Mahoney also extended his hitting streak to seven games.  Seven different Panthers had a hit on the night.  Zach Scott takes the loss, tossing 0.2 innings allowing two unearned runs.  Caldwell worked 5.1 innings surrendering four runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks.  Corey Swickle and Jeremy Berg both worked scoreless innings in relief.

Steven Brook was the only WFU player with two hits, while eight other players recorded a hit.  Brooks also had two RBI while Kroker and Stadler also drove in a run.  Ryan McGrath picked up the win, throwing one inning and giving up a run.  Brandon Johnson got his first save of the season.

High Point returns to the field this weekend when it hosts Big South foe Liberty in a three-game set.  Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21  game times are set for 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 22 is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.