Box Score Box Score

Senior Max Fulginiti tripled to left center in the eighth inning, scoring two runs to put the High Point University baseball team ahead of Eastern Kentucky 5-4. HPU would go on to beat the Colonels 6-4, improving to 10-3 on the season while EKU falls to 6-6. Corey Swickle earned the win in relief, improving to 3-0 on the season and Mikel Rodenberg picked up his fourth save of the year.

With the Panthers down 4-3 in the eighth inning, Nate Roberts led off with a single through the left side. Kyle Mahoney put down the bunt to move Roberts to second but a throwing error by the EKU pitcher allowed Mahoney to reach safely and move to second and Roberts advanced to third. Fulginiti took Paul Duncan's 2-0 pitch to the gap in left center, scoring both runners and putting High Point ahead 5-4. Steve Antolik's bloop single over the second baseman, scored Fulginiti and gave HPU the 6-4 advantage.

“The pitcher fell behind 2-0 and I was looking for the fast ball,” Fulginiti said. “I just wanted to get the barrel of the bat on it. It was a pretty good pitch to hit and I didn't miss it.”

Fulginiti went 3-4 on the day with two runs scored and two RBI.

Swickle pitched 3-1/3 innings in relief of HPU starter Brian Jones, picking up his third win of the season. Swickle gave up two runs, one earned, on two hits and three walks with six strikeouts. Paul Duncan picked up the loss for EKU, allowing three runs in one inning of work. Rodenberg pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his fourth save of the season.

“This was one of the toughest wins we've had all season,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “I will say again that this is a very strong Eastern Kentucky team and they have a toughness in the way they play the game. Part of growing as a team is learning to win and we have managed to win two very opposite games this weekend.”

Jones managed a scoreless first with some help from the HPU defense. With a runner on first after a single, Jones got Jacob Daniel to fly out to deep right field. The runner on first was caught too far off the base and doubled up by Roberts.

High Point took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Andrew Bartlett singled to lead off the inning and came around to score on Roberts' fielder's choice. The Panthers tacked on another run in the fourth, Roberts led off the inning with a walk, stole both second and third base, before scoring on a throwing error by EKU catcher Brian Shrimpton.

Eastern Kentucky put up three runs in the fifth inning to take the lead, 3-2. Jones started the inning with a walk to Bryce Labhart and Shrimpton moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Jones got Richie Rodriguez to pop up to Antolik at first base but the next batter, Jacob Daniel, doubled to left field, scoring Labhart. Swickle came in to relieve Jones and his first pitch to Jayson Langfels was a home run over the left field wall to put EKU on top 3-2.

Each team posted a run in the seventh inning but it was Fulginiti's triple in the eighth that gave HPU the win.

The Colonels attempted a rally in the ninth, putting runners on first and second with two outs but Rodenberg caught Michael Garcia looking at strike three for the final out of the game.

“Our offense really picked us up late in the game,” Rodenberg said. “I have to give credit to Jones and Swickle for putting me in the position to pick up the save, it feels great to get another one. It is time to focus on tomorrow and go for the sweep.”

High Point will go for the sweep of EKU Sunday at 1 p.m. Freshman Jared Avidon will make the start for High Point and Anthony Bazzani will pitch for EKU.