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The High Point University baseball team upset No. 16 East Carolina, 13-12, Wednesday at Williard Stadium. The Pirates loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth inning but
Mikel Rodenberg was able to record the final three outs of the game and pick up his fifth save of the season.
“Tonight represented what we are as a team,” said head coach
Craig Cozart. “Every out, every at bat, every play was a high pressure situation. East Carolina is obviously a tremendous team and I am glad the guys have now seen they are capable of. Our pitching got the tough outs and the offense answered every inning.”
Sophomore
Al Yevoli (1-1) picked up the win with 1-2/3 innings in relief of starter
Zach Haile and Mike Wright (0-1) pitched an inning for ECU, getting the loss.
The Panthers tied the game at 6-6 with a five-run fourth inning. With one out
Max Fulginiti singled to right field and advanced to third on a two-base error by the right fielder.
Steve Antolik singled to bring Fulginiti home and make it a 6-2 game. After a single by
Pablo Rosario,
Andrew Bartlett picked up two RBI with a single up the middle. With HPU still down by two runs and two runners on
Nate Roberts doubled to left center to tie the game at 6-6.
East Carolina took the lead back in the top of the fifth with an RBI single by Devin Harris off reliever
Al Yevoli. It was the only run Yevoli would allow in his 1-2/3 innings of relief. He had two strikeouts in his first win of the season.
“It was great to get my first win,” Yevoli said. “I felt great out there but this win is a credit to the hitters. They pulled it out tonight and made the pitchers look good.”
A seven-run fifth inning gave High Point the final lead of the game. The Panthers scored six of the runs with two outs in the inning, including a three run homer to left center by
Murray White IV.
East Carolina chipped away at the 13-7 deficit, putting up two runs in the sixth inning and two runs in the eighth inning.
With a 13-11 lead in the ninth inning
Kyle Starnes took the mound for High Point and hit the first batter he faced. Rodenberg came out to take the ball and walked the first two batters he faced to load the bases with nobody out. Rodenberg got Dustin Harrington to strike out swinging for the first out before walking in a run to make it a 13-12 ball game. Rodenberg closed the door on the Pirates with a ground out before the final batter, Corey Thompson struck out swinging.
“I was trying to be too fine when I first got out there,” Rodenberg said. “I knew I had the stuff tonight I just had to put it over the plate and when I did I had success. After I let the run in I told myself that was all they were getting. Walking to shake hands with
Kyle Mahoney after the same was the best feeling ever.”
Rosario finished the night 5-5 with two runs scored, improving his average to .385 on the season.
“It was definitely a great team win,” Rosario said. “It really proves what we are capable of. I just took tonight one at bat at a time, stayed relaxed and tried to hit the ball hard somewhere.”
Roberts had a 3-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. He hit his fifth home run of the season in the third inning, bringing his batting average to .480 for the season.
“This game was dramatic but we found a way to get the win,” Roberts said. “East Carolina is a great team, and they are ranked for a reason, they hit the ball with authority. Tonight we were just able to get one more than them.”
HPU improves to 12-4 with the win, continuing the best start in the Division I era. The Panthers will host Big South rival VMI this weekend with Friday's first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
