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HPU completed the sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson with a 16-1 win on Sunday. Three Panther freshman combined for eight innings on the mound, allowing one run on five hits and Mikel Rodenberg pitched a scoreless ninth inning in the win. Freshman Jared Avidon made the start for HPU, striking out nine in 4-2/3 innings and Zach Haile was credited with the win after pitching 2-1/3 scoreless innings of relief.

“This was our most complete game of the year,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “We had great pitching top to bottom and we got everything we needed offensively. We hit for power, stole bases and manufactured runs. We want to see this kind of game more consistently.”

Avidon pitched 4-2/3 innings, giving up just one run on four hits with nine strikeouts in his first career start. With two outs in the top of the fifth and a 2-1 count on FDU's Brian Dillon, Avidon called Cozart out of the dugout and took himself out of the game. He had thrown 98 pitches in the game.

“I just knew I had to go out there and throw strikes,” Avidon said. “I had energy and control and just tried to throw like I had at Charlotte. I threw strikes and it worked out well. My arm just tightened up in the fifth inning but I am fine.”

Haile made his first appearance of the season in relief of Avidon, walking Dillon before he got DJ Robinson to lineout to left field to end the inning. Haile retired the Knights in order in the sixth inning and gave up surrendered one hit in a scoreless seventh inning for the win in his first career appearance.

“It felt great to get out there,” Haile said. “I mainly threw my fastball and changeup, I didn't need much more because their hitters were already so off balance.”

Offensively, High Point got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. FDU starter Ashley Bulluck walked the bases loaded and then put Sal Pezzino on with the fourth walk of the inning to push home a run. Mike Mercurio hit in to a double play but Matt Ganter scored from third base to give HPU the 2-0 lead.

Murray White IV led off the third inning with his third home run of the season, giving High Point a 2-1 lead. The homer extends White's hitting streak to a career high six games. With one out in the inning Kyle Mahoney singled to right field and stole second base before Gantner took a 2-1 pitch from Bulluck over the opposite field wall for his first career homer. HPU would add one more run in the inning on a wild pitch.

HPU extended the lead with a six-run sixth inning. With the bases loaded and no one out Gantner doubled down the right field line to clear the bases. Gantner finished the day 2-3 with five RBI. Bartlett and Roberts would also collect RBI in the inning.

The Panthers tacked on three more runs in the eighth inning, two on an RBI double by pinch hitter Mike Gragilla to bring the final score of the game to 17-5. High Point outhit FDU 17-5 in the game.

Steven Roche and Rodenberg pitched a scoreless inning each for the Panthers as well.

HPU (4-2) hosts No. 13 East Carolina on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. game at Williard Stadium. The Pirates are 4-3 on the season.