Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

GAME 1 BOX SCORE
GAME 2 BOX SCORE

The High Point University baseball team split Saturday's double header with No. 27 Coastal Carolina at Williard Stadium, dropping the final game of the series 11-2. The Panthers won the series to improve to 21-21 overall and 7-11 in Big South play.

The Chanticleers scored four runs in the first and five in the ninth on their way to the victory. Senior Mikel Rodenberg allowed four runs on five hits in the first inning to take the loss, his first of the season. Josh Conway went five innings for the Chanticleers, allowing two unearned runs on two hits with five strikeouts for the win.

“Giving up four runs in the first put us in a tough position,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “We never showed up in the second game and it is unfortunate because we had a real chance at sweeping Coastal Carolina this weekend. Taking two of three is a great accomplishment but I am disappointed that we didn't come out and compete in the third game.”

Coastal got on the board in the top of the first inning after four straight hits off of Rodenberg. After singles by Scott Woodward and Tommy La Stella, Daniel Bowman took Rodenberg's pitch over the left centerfield fence for an early 3-0 lead. Rodenberg gave up one more run in the inning but was able to minimize the damage by getting Taylor Motter to ground into the 6-4-3 double play and striking out John Fidanza.

High Point responded with two runs of its own in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on poor defense by the Chanticleers. Senior Steve Antolik reached on a throwing error by CCU third baseman Rich Witten and scored on a wild pitch. Sophomore Ryan Retz doubled and scored off another throwing error by Witten.

Sophomore Steven Roche came in to relieve Rodenberg in the second and gave up two runs, but the Panther pitching staff settled down after that and was able to keep the Chanticleers off the board until the ninth. Junior Nick Schumacher pitched 1-2/3 scoreless innings and was followed by junior Drew Dades who went 2-2/3 innings, giving up no runs on one hit and striking out three.

HPU threatened in the fourth inning but was not able to push across any runs. After a Robbie Gilles single and Kyle Mahoney walk, Zach Tessier was hit by a pitch with two outs to load the bases. The scoring attempt was then halted when Sal Pezzino grounded out to second base on the first pitch he saw.

The Chanticleers added five runs on four hits in the ninth inning to extend the lead to 11-2. Retz inherited a runner from John Maloney and allowed him to score as well as giving up four runs of his own. Kyle Wigmore came out of the bullpen to get T.J. Young to strikeout to end the inning.

Retz went 1-4 in the game with a double and a run scored. In the doubleheader, Retz was 5-9 with five RBI, a double, and a home run.

HPU will be in action Tuesday when Western Carolina comes to Williard Stadium for a 6 p.m. match up.