Box Score Box Score

Senior Kyle Mahoney's walk-off single in the ninth inning lifted the High Point University baseball team to an 8-7 win over Temple Saturday at Williard Stadium. Sophomore Mike Mercurio scored the game-winning run after he led off the ninth with a single up the middle.

With the game tied 7-7, Mercurio led off the bottom of the ninth with a bouncing ball up the middle and advanced to second on a basehit by Ryan Retz. Temple shortstop Adrian Perez's throwing error put Mercurio at third and Retz at second for Steve Antolik. The Owls intentionally walked Antolik to get to Mahoney who slapped the first pitch from Jimmy Devine through the left side to plate Mercurio.

“I really didn't have a great day at the plate,” Mahoney said. “I feel like I have been struggling lately but I was able to help my team in my last two at bats. Hopefully those last two hits will get me back on track.”

Mahoney also had an RBI single in High Point's five-run eighth inning to tie the game 6-6. He finished the night 2-4 with two RBI and two walks.

Devine took the loss for Temple, falling to 1-1 this year while sophomore Kyle Wigmore picked up the win for High Point. Wigmore is now 1-2 on the season.

The Panthers trailed 6-2 going in to the eighth inning before posting five runs to take a 7-6 lead. Temple reliever Steve Visnic was on the mound with Murray White IV on second and Mercurio on first when Sal Pezzino took a foul ball off his body and had to come out of the game. Pinch-hitter Zach Tessier inherited his 1-2 count and singled to left field to start an HPU rally that plated five runs. Tessier, Retz, Antolik and Mahoney all had RBI singles in the frame. Antolik would score on a wild pitch to put High Point ahead 7-6.

Wigmore came out in a save situation in the ninth and quickly got the first out with Taylor Juran looking at strike three. David Hall reached on an error and came around to score on a liner back up the middle off the bat of Byron McKoy. Wigmore got out of the inning with two more strikeouts but the game went to the bottom of the ninth tied 7-7.

Wigmore allowed one unearned run on two hits in an inning of work. He picked up three strikeouts in his first win of the season.

“Brant Norlander deserves credit for a great outing tonight,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “We couldn't get anything going offensively until he was out of the game. But in the end we showed patience and discipline at the plate, stayed within our system and it paid off in the end. I am also very proud of our bullpen's performance tonight.”

Norlander went 6-2/3 innings for Temple, allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts. Sophomore Jared Avidon lasted 4-1/3 innings in his second start of the season, allowing four runs, three earned, on nine hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

Nick Schumacher pitched a scoreless eighth inning for High Point, striking out two batters.

Mercurio went 1-2 with three runs score and two walks in the game and Retz went 3-5 with a run scored and an RBI.

The Panthers improve to 2-5 on the season while Temple drops to 3-2. HPU will go for the sweep Sunday at 1 p.m. at Williard Stadium.