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Junior Cody Allen battled for eight innings after struggling early to lead the High Point University baseball team to a 6-2 win over Liberty Friday at Williard Stadium. He allowed just two unearned runs with eight strikeouts for his third win of the season.

“Obviously this is a solid win,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “What sticks out is our composure and methodical approach in every aspect of the game. If we can keep this approach we will win a bunch of games. Cody took control in the middle innings and offensively we threatened in nearly every inning. It is a great win to start the weekend.”

High Point improves to 17-16 (4-6 Big South) while Liberty falls to 15-16 (5-5 Big South). Allen moves to 3-3 with the win while Liberty starter Keegan Linza took the loss, dropping to 5-2 on the season.

Cody Allen struggled with his control early in the game, giving up five hits in the first three innings. Liberty broke through with two unearned runs in the third, after Preston Packrall made a two-out throwing error. Tyler Bream reached on the error and scored on a triple to center from Doug Bream. Bream would also score on a double from right fielder Michael Robertson to give the Flames a 2-1 lead.

High Point took the lead with two unearned runs in the fourth inning, capitalizing on a throwing error by third baseman Tyler Bream. Ryan Retz reached on the error and came around to score on Kyle Mahoney's RBI single to left field. Packrall singled to left center and came around to score the second Panther run of the inning on a wild pitch. The Panthers led 3-2 at the end of four innings.

Allen settled in with the final out of the third inning, retiring 10 in a row until Jeff Jefferson reached on an error in the seventh. He didn't allow a hit in his final five innings of work. He went eight innings, allowing two unearned runs on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.

“I was feeling out the game and the Liberty lineup early in the game,” Allen said. “I wasn't necessarily making the best pitch choices early but coach Cozart helped me make better decisions and I was able to expand the strike zone and execute late in the game.”

Murray White IV singled and scored in the fifth and Steve Antolik scored a run in the seventh before Linza was taken out of the game. Linza went 6-2/3 innings, giving up five runs, two earned, on 10 hits with three walks.

Antolik, Retz and Mahoney all had two hits in the game. Retz also pitched a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout.

The Panthers will send sophomore Jared Avidon to the mound on Saturday against Liberty's John Niggli at 6 p.m.