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The High Point University baseball team took game one of Saturday's double header against UNC Asheville, beating the Bulldogs 9-1. Freshman Jaime Schultz kept the Bulldogs hitless through 4-1/3 innings in his first career start.

“Baseball works when you get quality starts and we have gotten two this weekend,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “Jaime absolutely went out and competed in his first start and put us in position for the sweep. Offensively we were patient and took advantage when they put us on base. We let the game come to us which is the sign of a mature team. It has been a while since we were in position to get the sweep, now we need to go out and get it.”

The Panthers gave Schultz a five-run lead to work with in the first inning. UNC Asheville starting pitcher Justin Schumer walked two batters and hit two more to help HPU push across five runs on just three hits. Matt Gantner had an RBI single and HPU scored two runs when Max Fulginiti reached on an error by the second baseman.

Despite walking three batters in the first five innings, Schultz kept the Bulldogs hitless for 4-1/3 inning. Cody Buch singled to right field with one out in the fifth inning to break up the no-hitter. Schultz got the next batter Jordan Lurie to ground in to a double play to preserve the shutout.

In the fifth inning Schultz set the Bulldogs down, in order, getting Ian Graham to fly out to right field on his 101st pitch of the game.

Schumer settled in after the five-run first inning, allowing just two more Panther hits through the sixth inning. Schumer finished the day with six innings pitched, allowing five runs, two earned on five hits. Schumer walked five batters with only one strikeout.

Schultz came out for the sixth inning, and after allowing just the second hit of the game, a leadoff single to Robert McIntosh he got Mike Zinman to fly out and Beau Zinman and Buch to strike out swinging to end the seventh inning.

Schultz walked three and recorded seven strikeouts, tying his career high in seven innings, his longest appearance of the season.

"I just tried to fill up the strike zone and keep my pitch count down," SChultz said. "I felt confident with every pitch and my defense really stepped up today. It is easy to throw strikes when you know the defense will make plays behind you."

HPU put up four more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning off three UNC Asheville relievers. High Point capitalized on four walks in the inning to score four runs on two hits. Kyle Mahoney, Sal Pezzino and Murray White IV all picked up RBIs in the inning and Gantner scored on a wild pitch.
Kyle Starnes took the mound in the eigth inning and erased a leadoff walk with a 6-4-3 double play before Danny Baatz struck out swinging to keep the shutout intact.

Freshman Kyle Wigmore made just his second appearance as a pitcher, allowing one unearned run, in the ninth inning to end HPU's chance at the shutout. The Bulldogs put up one run on an error by Pezzino.

White went 2-3 with three RBI in the game and Nate Roberts was walked four times in the game, adding two stolen bases.

HPU improves to 21-21 (7-10 Big South Conference) with the win while UNC Asheville falls to 11-24 (5-12 BSC).