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Wake Forest rallied past the High Point University baseball team in the eighth inning, scoring two runs to beat the Panthers 8-7 Wednesday night at the Wake Forest Baseball Park. A wild pitch by Spencer Andrews allowed the winning run to score for the Demon Deacons who had tied the game with a pinch-hit double by Trenton Langston.

“Tonight was a classic example of not winning the game,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “We left them in the game and they got the big hit in the end. Things continue to be tough for us offensively and we aren't good enough on the mound to leave teams in the game.”

The Panthers took a 7-3 lead in to the seventh inning but Wake Forest scored two runs off Corey Swickle in the seventh inning to cut HPU's lead to 7-6. In the eighth inning Swickle hit Williamson with one out and he advanced to second when Swickle threw the ball past first base on a failed pickoff attempt. Williamson scored on a pinch-hit double by Langston off Andrews. John Stamper entered the game as a pinch runner for Langston and scored on a wild pitch by Andrews with two outs.

High Point left 13 runners on base in the game, including leaving the bases loaded in the second and third innings.

Max Fulginiti scored a run in the second inning off Wake Forest starter Justin Van Grouw. He singled through the left side and scored on a groundout by Andrew Bartlett to put HPU up 1-0.

Wake Forest tied the score in the bottom half of the inning. HPU starter Wes Torrez walked Mike Murray to lead off the inning. With Murray at third, Matt Conway lined a ball to third base just off Bartlett's glove, allowing Murray to score. Torrez got out of the inning, stranding Conway with only one run across.

Murray White IV hit his fifth home run of the season in the fourth inning to put the Panthers ahead 4-1. White took the first pitch from Zach White over the left centerfield wall to score Steve Antolik and Pablo Rosario who had both walked.

Once again the Demon Deacons answered back in the bottom of the inning, with a three-run homer from Conway, scoring Murray who singled and Mac Williamson who was hit by a pitch.
HPU took the lead again in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs with two outs already on the board. Fulginiti earned a two-out walk, scoring when Antolik doubled to left center. Bartlett and Mike Mercurio picked up RBI singles to give the Panthers a 7-3 lead.

Torrez walked Pat Blair with one out in the fifth inning before he was taken out of the game. Swickle took the mound, getting the final two outs of the inning and stranding Blair at second base.

Torrez went 4-1/3 inning in his first start of the season, allowing four runs on three hits with two strikeouts.

The Panthers (17-13, 4-5 Big South) get back in to Big South action this weekend when they travel to Conway, S.C. to face Coastal Carolina. Friday's game will begin at 6 p.m. with the Saturday and Sunday games starting at 2 p.m.