Box Score

The High Point University baseball team defeated  the Appalachian State Mountaineers 10-6 Tuesday night at Williard Stadium in a rain-shortened game. Murray White IV set a new career-high with five RBI on the night. Mike Mercurio added two doubles in the game.

The game was stopped in the top of the sixth inning due to heavy amounts of rain and was eventually called after a hour and ten minute rain delay.

"We did what we could to complete the game tonight but the weather wouldn't allow it," said head coach Craig Cozart. "Our offense came out and performed at a high level and Drew Dades did everything he could to get through five innings. On a sloppy night I am very pleased to walk away with a win."

The Panthers fell behind early when Appalachian State's first baseman Trey Holmes singled to right field in the first inning. He was advanced to third by a Jack Myers single and came around to score on the next at-bat.

HPU was held scoreless through the first frame but responded quickly in the second. Robbie Gilles singled to left center with one out and advanced to second on a Drew Geissinger walk. Both runners were plated by White who doubled to right field.

High Point continued to light up Mountaineer pitcher Chad Farmer in the third. Ryan Retz led off the Panthers half of the inning with a double to left field. He scored on a wild pitch after Mountaineer catcher Jeremy Dowdy and Farmer had a miscommunication at the plate. Farmer was relieved by Tyler Jackson after giving up three straight walks. White got his third and fourth RBI of the night after driving another double to the warning track in deep left center field, scoring Maverick Miles, Gilles, and Kyle Mahoney. HPU scored seven times in the inning and took a 10-1 lead heading in to the fourth.

HPU starter Drew Dades kept ASU quiet until the fifth inning. Mountaineer second baseman Hector Crespo single through the left side and the next four Mountaineer runners reached base. Leadoff hitter Tyler Zupcic doubled to left center and picked up three RBI. ASU scored five runs in the inning on four hits, and there was one Panther error.

Dades picked up his second win of the season, going five innings, giving up six runs, three earned, on six hits. He walked three and struck out two Mountaineers, improving his record to 2-1.

The win marked the first time that HPU has beaten Appalachian State since 2002. The Mountaineers had won the last eight meetings.

White finished the night 2-3 with two runs scored and five RBI and Mercurio was 2-4 with two RBI. Steve Antolik was 0-2, snapping his 11-game hit streak. He walked and scored a run in the game.

The Panthers improve to 11-7 while the Mountaineers fall to 8-9. High Point will continue its eight-game home stand Wednesday with a 6 p.m. game against Virginia Commonwealth University. The game was pushed back two hours to allow the field time to dry. The Rams enter the game with a 6-9 record. Senior Corey Swickle will take the mound for HPU.