Box Score Box Score

The High Point University baseball team dropped a 10-3 game to ACC opponent NC State Tuesday at Doak Field. Junior Brian Jones struck out five batter in a row in the first three innings but was knocked out of the game after giving up four runs in the fifth. He falls to 0-4 on the season.

With the loss HPU falls to 26-27 (12-12 Big South Conference) heading in to the final weekend of the regular season.

“Tonight was a continuation of the second half of Sunday where we just didn't play,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “We are at the point in the season when we should be clicking as a team and playing with confidence and aggression. We will find ourselves tomorrow and be prepared for Charleston Southern on Thursday, I can promise you that.

Jones gave up a two-out double in the first inning before striking out five straight NC State batters. Drew Poulk led off the fourth with a single down the left field line but Matt Gantner made a perfect throw to second base to get Poulk out trying to stretch it in to a double. Harold Riggins followed it up with a single to left field and Pratt Maynard gave NCSU the lead with a two-run homer to left field.

HPU put runners on in the first, third and fifth innings but three double plays erased the base runners. After Steve Antolik hit in to just his third double play of the season in the fifth inning Max Fulginiti singled and Kyle Mahoney reached on an error by the third baseman to put runners on the corners for Murray White IV. White grounded out to second base to end the inning, stranding the runners.

The Wolfpack opened up a 6-0 lead in the fifth inning, scoring four runs, two earned, on three hits and one error. With one out Matt Bergquist hit a solo homer to left field. Dallas Poulk doubled down the left field line, Andrew Ciencin reached on an error Jones hit Drew Poulk to load the bases. Harold Riggins doubled in a pair of runs and Maynard picked up an RBI on a groundout to second base. With two outs, Spencer Andrews came out of the bullpen and got Chris Schaeffer to pop up to first baseman Andrew Bartlett in foul territory to end the inning.

Jones lasted 4-2/3 innings, allowing six runs, four earned with five strikeouts.

NC State starter Alex Sogard allowed just four hits with four strikeouts and three double plays in six innings of work. In the seventh Nick Rice came out of the bullpen and recorded strike outs of Nate Roberts and Gantner for the first two outs of the inning. Antolik grounded to shortstop for the final out.
HPU finally broke through in the eighth inning with an RBI single from White to score Fulginiti. Fulginiti had singled up the middle, advanced to second on a walk to Mahoney and stole third before scoring on White's hit. Fulginiti and Mahoney reached base with Rice still on the mound but White's hit came off reliever Vance Williams. Williams ended the HPU rally with strikeouts of Drew Geissinger, pinch-hitter Robbie Gilles and a bouncer back to the mound off the bat of Mike Mercurio.

NCSU answered with a four-run bottom of the eighth. Wes Torrez gave up two hits to begin the inning before he was relieved by Drew Dades. Dades gave up a double and hit a batter, making it an 8-1 game. Dades looked to have to first out of the inning on a liner to right field but Gantner misplayed the ball, putting Ciencin at second base and scoring another run. Another run scored on a groundout to first base but Dades closed the door with a strikeout of Maynard to end the inning.

Roberts led off the ninth inning with a solo home run to right center. Gantner walked and Antolik was hit by a pitch to bring up Fulginiti with no outs. Fulginiti was robbed of extra bases on a running catch by the left fielder before NCSU went to the bullpen to bring out Mike Russo. Mahoney doubled to score Gantner but 10-3 was as close as HPU would get before Russo ended the inning.

HPU heads to Charleston, S.C. to face Big South rival Charleston Southern in the final series of the regular season. HPU currently sits in fifth place in the conference standings.