Box Score BOX SCORE

The High Point University baseball team committed five errors and stranded eight runners on base in a 7-3 loss to Winthrop Friday at Williard Stadium. The Eagles overcame an early HPU lead with six unanswered runs.

“We had a great opportunity after the second inning to create momentum and distance ourselves from Winthrop in the game,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “But we made too many errors while Winthrop made good plays and good pitches. We have put ourselves in a tough position for the weekend but we will find a way to come back and win the series.”

High Point led 3-1 after the second inning, with Robbie Gilles and Ryan Retz each reaching base after getting hit by a pitch and coming around to score. Mike Gragilla, Murray White IV and Drew Geissinger all had RBI hits in the inning.

Winthrop put up run each in the second and fourth innings off HPU starter Cody Allen. Both runs were unearned after throwing errors by Allen and Kyle Mahoney advanced Winthrop runners.

The Eagles broke through in the fifth inning, putting up three runs on three hits to take a 5-3 lead.

Allen took the loss, allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits in 7-2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out eight in the loss.

HPU had a chance to get back in the game in the seventh inning with Mike Mercurio and Geissinger on first and second and two outs. Scott Glover singled to center field but Mercurio was thrown out at home by Cam Walters for the final out of the inning.

Winthrop starter Tyler Mizenko improved to 3-1 with the win, pitching 6-1/3 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with four strikeouts.

The Eagles two more runs in the ninth to win the game 7-3.

White finished the night 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored and Geissinger was 2-4 with one RBI.

Sophomore Jared Avidon will take the mound for High Point on Saturday, trying to tie the series up against Winthrop's Robert Lake. The Panthers are now 15-13 over and 3-4 in the Big South while Winthrop improves to 11-14 (4-3 Big South).