Box Score Box Score

Presbyterian College took the final game of the Big South series from the High Point University baseball team on Sunday 10-9 in Clinton, S.C. The Panthers jumped out to a 9-4 lead but the Blue Hose bullpen kept HPU off the scoreboard for the final five innings to drop the Panthers to 26-26 (12-12 Big South Conference).

“This is honestly the most disappointing loss we have experienced in a long time,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “We were in control of this game until the rain came and then we literally stopped playing. Now, instead of securing ourselves a position in the post season we leave ourselves in limbo for another week.”

Kyle Starnes allowed just one run in relief but was tagged with the loss, falling to 3-2 on the season. Freshman Jared Avidon made the start for High Point but lasted just 2-2/3 innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits with two strikeouts.

Pablo Rosario took the first pitch of the game from PC starter Andrew Foushee through the right side for a single, and after stealing second base came around to score when Nate Roberts doubled to left center. Roberts also picked up a stolen base in the inning, coming around to score when Matt Gantner reached on an error.

Presbyterian College took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the second. Nate Horton struck out to lead off the inning but reached on a wild pitch, coming around to score on Matthew Hill's double. Hill was thrown out trying to stretch it in to a triple. The Blue Hose added two more runs in the inning, one unearned on a pass ball.

The Panthers answered with a four-run third inning, started by Drew Geissinger who doubled to lead off the inning. Rosario sacrificed him to third and he scored on a Mike Mercurio's basehit. Roberts, Gantner and Max Fulginiti all singled in the inning, with Roberts and Gantner scoring to make it a 6-3 game.

Avidon walked Kenny Bryant to lead off the bottom of the third and he came around to score on back-to-back two out singles before Avidon was taken out of the game. Corey Swickle struck out Derek Herron to get out of the inning with a 6-4 HPU advantage.

Murray White IV led off the fourth with a base hit and Geissinger was hit by a pitch, sending Presbyterian College to the bullpen. Jordan Pace came in, giving up a single to Mercurio to score White before he intentionally walked Roberts to load the bases. Gantner made Pace pay with a single through the left side, picking up two RBI and extending HPU's lead to 9-4.

PC tied the game with a five-run fifth inning, scoring three runs off Swickle and two more off Mike Caldwell before Kyle Starnes came out of the bullpen with two outs and runner on first. Bryant popped up the first pitch from Starnes to first baseman, Steve Antolik in foul territory to end the inning.

After striking out the first batter of the sixth inning, Starnes gave up three base hits to load the bases. Derek Herron earned a walk to bring in a run and put PC ahead 10-9. Starnes induced a 5-2-3 double play from Jeff Tatum to get out of the jam.

Starnes, Kyle Wigmore and Al Yevoli each recorded one out on the mound for HPU in the eighth inning.

Gantner went 2-5 with four RBI in the game.

HPU will face non-conference opponent NC State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. before heading to Charleston Southern for the final series of the regular season. The first game will be played Thursday at 3 p.m.