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The High Point University baseball team capitalized on two errors by the Dayton Flyers to put up five runs in the eighth inning and pull out an 8-3 win. Senior Steve Antolik drove in two runs in the eighth with a double to right field to highlight a 3-4 night.

“That was a tremendous way to win a ballgame,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “Both starters were fantastic tonight. Cody Allen took us deep in to the game with the lead and when that lead was gone our offense made the most of the scoring opportunities. I love the character of our offense right now, we are patient but opportunistic at the same time. This was a great win to start the weekend.”

Allen pitched 7-2/3 innings, allowing two runs, one earned on six hits with nine strikeouts but did not factor in to the decision. Sophomore Kyle Wigmore picked up his second win of the season, striking out two in 1-1/3 hitless innings.

Dayton starter Cameron Hobson also had a quality start but was let down by his defense, as he allowed eight runs, only two of which were earned. Hobson didn't walk a batter and had nine strikeouts in 7-1/3 innings.

Allen kept Dayton scoreless until the seventh inning when the Flyers pushed across an unearned run, to make it a 3-1 High Point lead. Danny Welch singled to start the inning but Allen appeared to get the next batter, Zach Stewart, out on a fly ball to center field. The umpire signaled Stewart safe when the ball went in to the jersey of center fielder Ryan Retz. A sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly pushed a run in for the Flyers.

Dayton tied the game 3-3 in the eight on a two-run homer by Jonathan Castine to right field. Mikel Rodenberg relieved Allen with two outs in the eighth and a runner on first, giving up the home run to Castine. Rodenberg also allowed a double to Danny Welch before he was replaced by Wigmore. Wigmore got the third out of the inning with a ground ball to Mike Mercurio at shortstop.

The Panthers answered with a five-run eighth inning, capitalizing on two Dayton errors. Mercurio reached on an error by the Flyers' first baseman and after a single by Murray White IV came in to score on a throwing error by the shortstop. Retz hit a groundball to the shortstop that looked like a double play but Robby Sunderman threw the ball in to the outfield. Antolik followed with a two-RBI double to right field and Kyle Mahoney and Drew Geissinger added RBI singles in the inning to put High Point on top 8-3.

“This is a great win,” Antolik said. “I knew I had to be aggressive in that last at bat and he gave me a fastball I could jump on. Cody pitched a great game against for us tonight and I am glad we could pull out the win.”

Wigmore picked up two strikeouts in the ninth and got the final out on a pop up to short for the win.

Antolik finished the night 3-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. White went 2-4 with a triple and Geissinger extended his hit streak to a career-best seven games.

The Panthers improve to 5-5 for the season while Dayton drops to 4-4. The teams will play a double header on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. at Williard Stadium. HPU will send sophomore Jared Avidon to the mound in the first game and senior Mike Caldwell will get the ball in the final game of the series.