High Point scored six runs in the ninth inning but could not overcome the early deficit dropping a 14-8 non-conference match-up to East Tennessee State Friday night at Cardinal Park.

Alfie Wheeler got things going on his own in the first inning for High Point (17-21) taking a 3-2 fastball over the rightfield wall for his first career homerun giving the Panthers an early 1-0 lead after a half inning.

East Tennessee responded by scoring the game's next four runs of the contest.  Troy Mendez worked a two-out walk and scored on a double from Paul Hoilman off the centerfield wall.  The second homerun of the game on a full count came off the bat of Derek Trent, his fourth of the season.  Cory Betterson led off the second inning with a push bunt single.  He was then sacrificed over to second and moved up to third on a single by Garrett May.  Jacob Fabry scored Betterson on a sacrifice fly for a 4-1 advantage after two innings.

HPU cut the lead in half to 4-2 in the top half of the third inning.  Jeff Cowan drew a two-out walk followed by a Wheeler single through the left side putting runners on first and second.  Bill Manion singled to left-centerfield plating Cowan and having runners on the corners.  Manion tried taking second base on a pitch in the dirt but was thrown out at second to end the HPU threat.

The Buccaneers (21-19) responded right back when Bo Reeder hit a leadoff homerun in the third inning increasing their lead to 5-2.  An inning later, the hosts took advantage of an error scoring four more runs all of which were unearned.  The bases were loaded via an error, walk and hit-by-pitch.  After a strikeout, Fabry hit his second sacrifice fly of the contest scoring Danny Petro.  Reeder hit a routine fly ball to rightfield, but with a steep hill in play out in rightfield, Spencer Andrews was not able to climb the hill and get in place allowing two more runners to come across.  Mendez closed out the scoring in the inning with a single up the middle plating Reeder for a 9-2 ETSU lead.

After being held scoreless in the fifth inning, the Bucs scored three runs on just two hits.  May began the inning with a walk.  After a fly out, he advanced to second on a wild pitch followed by a walk to Reeder.  Mendez doubled up the hill plating May and putting the runners in scoring position.  Mike Caldwell came on in relief and induced a groundout with the infield in keeping the runners at second and third.  Trent then hit a grounder that scooted under the glove of Cowan bringing in both runners, giving the hosts a 12-2 advantage.

After two outs were recorded in the eighth inning, Wheeler worked his second walk of the game and 26th of the season.  Manion laced a single up the middle moving Wheeler up to second.  HPU sent up its hottest hitter up in Alvino, but the senior chopped out to third base forcing out Wheeler to end the frame.

ETSU would tack on two more runs in the eighth frame making it a 14-2 lead heading into the final inning. 

Max Fulginiti hit a one-out single in the ninth inning to get a late rally going for High Point.  Pinch-hitter Hank Patterson drew a walk, putting runners on at first and second.  After another strikeout, Pablo Rosario singled to the pitcher loading the bases.  Cowan walked for the second time in the contest bringing in Fulginiti.  Wheeler reached on a throwing error by the shortstop scoring all three runners on the play.  Manion then hit a bomb to rightfield closing the gap to 14-8.  A groundout on the next play ended the game and the HPU comeback attempt.

Wheeler and Manion both picked up three hits on the night and each had a homerun in the contest.  Fulginiti was the other Panther with multiple hits on the night with two.  He also extended his Big South leading hitting streak to 28 games, five shy of breaking the conference record.  Cowan walked twice but did not pick up a hit ending his 14-game hitting streak and keeping him 3 hits away from eclipsing the school's all-time hits record.  The second baseman did score two runs though to surpass the school's all-time runs scored mark of 175, standing at 176 now.  Manion improved his hitting streak to nine-games.   On the mouth RJ Chlebnikow was tagged for 12 runs (five earned) in 5.1 innings pitched dropping his mark to 2-4 on the season.

Chas Byrne picked up the winning improving to 5-2 tossing 7.1 innings while allowing two runs on five hits.  Four different Buccaneers picked up multiple hits led by Reeder and Trent who combined to drive in seven runs combined.  The duo also hit a homerun each.