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The High Point University baseball team couldn't complete the sweep of Winthrop, dropping the final game of the series, 8-4, Saturday at the Winthrop Ballpark. The Panthers won the series, taking the first two games 15-4 and 15-9.

“Starting pitching was the difference in game three,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “We didn't get a quality start they did from a talented pitcher. Obviously, we are never satisfied but to get a series win, in conference on the road is a good series. We need to continue to play tough because we spend the next two weeks on the road.”

Junior Brian Jones fell to 0-2 with the loss and Robert Lake went 6-2/3 innings in the win for the Eagles.

Winthrop jumped out to a 6-1 lead through four innings. Jones gave up four runs, two earned, on six hits and put runners on second and third in the fourth inning before he was relieved by sophomore lefty Al Yevoli. Yevoli gave up a double down the left field line to the first batter he faced, Tyler Cook scoring two more runs credited to Jones. Yevoli was able to get out of the inning stranding Cook and Tyler McBride who reached on a hit by pitch.

Jones ended the day with 3-2/3 innings pitched, giving up six runs, four earned with a walk and one strikeout.

Matt Gantner scored a run in the sixth to make it a 7-5 game. He was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a walk by Max Fulginiti. Gantner came around to score on a right-field single by Steve Antolik, who extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

Yevoli came back out for the sixth inning and recorded one out before a hit batter and walk put two runners on base. Wes Torrez came out of the bullpen and got a pop out and a strikeout to strand the runners and end the inning.

The Panthers continued to peck away at the Winthrop lead, adding two runs in the seventh to cut Winthrop's lead to 7-4. Mike Mercurio struck out swinging but reached on a wild pitch and came around to score on Murray White IV's sacrifice fly. Gantner singled through the right side to score Pablo Rosario, the second run of the inning.

Sean Sullivan led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run off Torrez to put the Eagles ahead by four runs, 8-4.

The Panthers couldn't complete the comeback, stranding nine runners in the final four innings.

High Point is now 16-8 (3-3 Big South Conference) while Winthrop improves to 13-10 (1-2 BSC). The Panthers continue the 12-game road trip with games at Duke on Tuesday and Western Carolina on Wednesday. Tuesday's game against Duke will be played at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.