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The High Point University baseball team couldn't overcome UNC Asheville's four-run first inning, falling to the Bulldogs 7-4 in the final game of the Big South series. Asheville swept Sunday's double header to win the series.

After Asheville jumped out a 4-1 lead in the first HPU kept the game close, putting runners on in every inning but the fifth. The Panthers couldn't break through though, stranding nine runners on base in the game.

“I am disappointed we couldn't carry the energy from Friday's win in to the double header,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “We have put ourselves in a tough position in the conference standings and have to find a way to win some ball games down the stretch.”

With the loss HPU is 18-20 (5-10 Big South) while Asheville improves to 15-21 (7-8 Big South). HPU got solid innings from Steven Roche and Mikel Rodenberg out of the bullpen. The duo combined for seven innings, allowing two earned runs.

The Bulldogs put up four runs in the first inning on HPU starter Steven Schils, knocking him out of the game after just a third of an inning. Asheville's leadoff hitter Jordan Lurie reached on a catcher's interference call and Schils walked Robert McIntosh to bring up Grant Gajdosz. Gasdosz doubled to left center to score two runs. Nick Collazo singled in Gasdosz to end Schils' day. Roche took the mound, allowing one inherited runner to score on a sacrifice fly before getting out of the inning. UNCA led 4-1 at the end of the first.

Schils allowed four runs, two earned, on three hits with two walks.

After Sal Pezzino singled and scored in the first inning, HPU pecked away at the Asheville lead scoring one run in the third and one in the fourth. Drew Geissinger doubled and scored on a groundout by Scott Glover in the third. In the fourth inning Ryan Retz earned a leadoff walk, stole second and scored when Kyle Mahoney reached on an error.

Roche allowed an unearned run in the third when Collazo scored on an error by Zach Tessier. In the fourth inning Roche gave up back-to-back singles to lead off the inning and end his outing. Mikel Rodenberg took the mound, allowing one inherited runner to score on a sacrifice fly to extend Asheville's lead to 6-3.

Roche went 3-2/3 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits with two strikeouts and one walk.

HPU threatened in the seventh, putting two runners on with two outs and Steve Antolik at the plate. The right fielder ripped one down the third base line but Asheville third baseman Cody Buch was able to knock the ball down and make a play to first to end the threat.

Both teams scored a run in the eighth inning. Retz doubled in Murray White IV in the top half of the inning and Zinman had a sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the eighth to make it a 7-4 game.

Rodenberg went 3-1/3 innings of relief, allowing one run on two hits with one strikeout and Corey Swickle recorded the final two outs for HPU. Tommy Houmard went seven innings for Asheville to earn the win and bring his season record to 2-1.

Geissinger was 3-5 at the plate with a run scored and Antolik was 2-5 with one RBI.

HPU will play at Elon Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. before returning home for a weekend series with Coastal Carolina.