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Junior Drew Dades went the distance for the High Point University baseball team, throwing a complete game three-hitter as the Panthers beat Wake Forest, 9-1, at Williard Stadium on Wednesday night in the second game of a home-and-home series.

“Drew Dades was unbelievable tonight,” HPU head coach Craig Cozart said. “He pitched his rear end off and really competed for us which lets us go into the weekend with our relievers well rested. I am very proud of his effort and the team's effort. I have been very satisfied with the change of energy over the past two games. We have a different mentality that we have been waiting to see.”

Dades gave up just one unearned run on the night. The junior right-hander was perfect through the first four inning of action and allowed just eight base runners all evening while notching five strikeouts. The complete game was the first of Dades' collegiate career and the first since for HPU Jaime Serber accomplished the feat against UNC Asheville on April 23, 2010.

“This is something I have never done before,” Dades said. “It was a good win for the team. Guys made a lot of great plays behind me tonight. Murray White IV at second and Preston Packrall at short made a lot of plays up the middle. It was tough giving up that run at the end but walks will kill you and it was just a bang-bang play there at the end. A win is a win and now we need to get ready for Liberty this weekend.”

Dades improved to 3-2 with the win while Wake Forest's Zach White took the loss to fall to 1-4 on the season after two runs in 3.2 innings of work.

High Point improves to 16-16 on the season with the win. Wake Forest falls to 11-18 overall.

For the second-straight game the Panthers managed to push a run across the plate in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. Senior Steve Antolik reached second with a two-out double just inside the third-base bag and down the left field line and was then driven in on an RBI single to left center by sophomore Scott Glover.

High Point picked up runs in the fourth and fifth inning to push its lead to 3-0 as senior Murray White IV scored in the fourth and Antolik came around to score for a second time in the following inning. The Panthers managed to load the bases in the fourth giving senior Spencer Andrews a chance to drop a bunt down the first-base line to drive in White. In the fifth, Antolik reached on a single and came around to score two batters later on a single to right center by White.

White opened the second half with a single through the left side and sophomore Ryan Retz followed with a double down the left field line. Back-to-back singles by freshman Preston Packrall and senior Kyle Mahoney drove in both White and Retz. After a fielder's choice and a walk loaded the bases, senior Drew Geissinger drove in the final run of the frame with a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Packrall, doubling the Panther lead to 6-0.

HPU's hot hitting continued in the next inning as High Point's first six batters reached base with Retz, Mahoney and Andrews each picking up RBI's in the frame. Retz hit a single up the middle to score White and after a Packrall double came around to score on a single by Mahoney. Andrews then drove in the final run of the game for the Panthers with a fielder's choice to plate Packrall.

Wake Forest broke up the shutout with two outs in the top of the ninth when Mac Williamson reached first on a throwing error by Packrall to drive in Steven Brooks who had walked to start the inning. Williamson hit a chopper to Packrall who was playing deep at shortstop and the throw from the freshman just pulled Geissinger off the bag, allowing the Demon Deacons' lone run to cross the plate.

High Point compiled 18 hits in the game with Antolik, White, Retz and Mahoney notching three hits apiece. White went 3-5 on the night with an RBI and three runs scored. Mahoney and Andrews each had two RBI in the contest to lead the Panthers.

"Eighteen hits is tremendous obviously,” Cozart said. “That is what we needed to get going was our sticks and we got some big base hits. Obviously now we need to carry that momentum into the weekend against Liberty.”

High Point's four-game homestand continues this weekend when the Panthers welcome Liberty to Williard Stadium for a three-game series. Junior Cody Allen will get things started on the mound for HPU in the teams' first game on Friday at 6 p.m.