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Freshman Andrew Bartlett went 1-3 with four RBI and his first career home run as the High Point University baseball team beat Fairleigh Dickinson in a 20-14 slugfest to improve to 3-2 on the season. Junior Murray White IV hit his second home run of the season and extended his hitting streak to a career-high five games in the win.

“Defensively, if you take away the third inning, it wasn't as bad a game,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “You obviously don't like a slugfest but if you come out on the winning end you can tolerate it. We are still trying to figure out who we are as a team only five games in to the season. Right now, we move on to tomorrow and try and get the sweep.”

Sophomore Al Yevoli struggled with his control in his second start of the season, walking the first two batters of the game. DJ Robinson singled to left center off Yevoli and plated Matt Holsman to give FDU a 1-0 lead in the first. Yevoli would walk the bases loaded with one out before striking out the side to get out of the inning with just one run allowed and three base runners left on.

It appeared Yevoli had the game under control in the second inning, setting down the Knights in order with two groundouts and a strikeout.

High Point posted five runs in the bottom half of the second. With the bases loaded, Steve Antolik was hit by a pitch from Ray Courtney, bringing home one run. Mike Mercurio then singled through the left side for two RBI. Courtney would load the bases again in the inning and hit Nate Roberts with a pitch to plate the fourth run of the inning. Kyle Mahoney would get an RBI on a sacrifice fly to center field before Courtney got Matt Gantner to fly out to end the inning.

The Panthers saw the 5-1 lead disappear in the third inning as it took three HPU pitchers to get out of the inning after allowing nine runs on seven hits and two errors. Yevoli started the inning, walking two batters and allowing three singles before Cozart brought Mike Caldwell in to the game. Caldwell immediately gave up a two run single before getting Mike Eliasen to strike out looking. Caldwell faced five more batters, allowing four runs on four hits but was unable to get the third out of the inning.

Nick Schumacher came out for his second appearance of the season and got the first batter he faced to ground out to first baseman Mahoney.

The High Point pitching staff was able to take control after the nine-run third, allowing just four runs in the final six innings. Schumacher (1-0) got the win for High Point, pitching 2-1/3 innings, giving up two runs on three hits with a strikeout and two walks. Spencer Andrews and Corey Swickle combined for the final two innings of the game, each allowing one run.

The Panther offense handled the 10-5 deficit immediately, posting five more runs in the bottom of the third to knot the score at 10-10. Two runs had already scored in the inning and Mike Mercurio was on first base when White sent a pitch from Courtney in to the right field student section for his second home run of the season.

"Coach [Bryan] Peters gets the credit for how well I have been hitting this season," White said. "It is his hitting approach and we make sure to listen to the scouting reports. I know every hitter feels comfortable up there because of the work he has done with us. Everything is going well for me right now. The time in the weight room is paying off."

HPU took its final lead of the game with a six-run fourth inning off FDU reliever Matt Cadigan who was tagged with his first loss of the season. Freshman Zach Tessier, who got the start behind the plate, and Steve Antolik both singled to begin the inning. Mercurio was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Bartlett's second sacrifice fly of the game plated Tessier for the first run of the inning. Mahoney and Gantner each had two RBI singles in the inning and the final run of the inning was forced home when
Roberts was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Mercurio walked to lead off the fifth inning, stealing second, before Bartlett homered over the left centerfield wall for his first career home run.

"It felt really good to hit the first home run," Bartlett said. "I finally got a ball to drive and I didn't miss it. The season is definitely going well for me so far, the transition to college has been going well. It is still the game of baseball, I just go out there and try and have fun."

The Panthers would post two more runs in the seventh inning on their way to 20-14 victory.
Bartlett had a team-high four RBI in the game and White went 1-3 with three walks, extending his hit streak to a career-high five games. In his first start of the season Tessier went 2-5 with two runs scored.  HPU collected 11 walks in the game and had a season high 13 hits.

High Point will go for the sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson Sunday at 1 p.m. at Williard Stadium. It will be a freshmen pitching matchup with Jared Avidon making his first career start for HPU and Ashley Bulluck taking the mound for the Knights.