Box Score BOX SCORE

Drew Geissinger scored the go ahead run in the top of the tenth and Spencer Andrews held off an Appalachian State rally in the bottom of the inning to lift the High Point University baseball team to a 6-5 win Wednesday in Boone, N.C.

Geissinger singled to lead off the top of the tenth inning and came around to score the go ahead run on Robbie Gilles' double to right centerfield. Steve Antolik followed Geissinger with a single to center and Murray White IV moved them both in to scoring position with a slow grounder to second base. ASU relief pitcher Taylor Miller quickly put Gilles in an 0-2 hole but the first baseman was able to battle back and come through with the game-winning hit.

“The great thing tonight was that we came out and competed for 10 innings,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “Ryan Retz was tremendous in his second career start. He battled and put us in position to win tonight. Spencer Andrews was special in relief and offensively Steve Antolik and Drew Geissinger were great all night. Robbie Gilles came through in the tenth to give us a much-needed win.”

Andrews pitched three innings of relief for the win, allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts. ASU put two runners on in the bottom of the inning, moving them both in to scoring position with only one out. Andrews got Zach Briggs to groundout to second for the second out of the inning but it scored a run, making it a 6-5 game. Preston Troutman struck out looking at three pitches to end the game.

Antolik was responsible for tying the game in both the third and sixth innings. In the third he doubled to center field to score Sal Pezzino and Geissinger and tie the game 2-2. Both runs were unearned and credited to Appalachian State starter Ryne Frankoff.

Frankoff lasted three innings, allowing the two unearned runs on three hits with two strikeouts.
In the sixth inning Antolik hit his fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot to center field to knot the game at 4-4. Geissinger led off the inning with a double down the left field line and Antolik took the 0-1 offering from relief pitcher Lawrence Pardo out of Smith Stadium.

In his second start of the season Retz went a career-long six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits with one walk and four strikeouts. His four strikeouts tied his career high. He also had four in his start against Elon on Feb. 22.

With two outs in the second inning Retz hit a batter and gave up a triple to the gap in right center off the bat off catcher Tyler Tewell. Tewell came in to score and give the Mountaineers a 2-0 lead when Hector Crespo singled up the middle. Retz caught Crespo too far off first base, picking him off to end the inning.

After Antolik's double tied the game in the top of the third, Retz gave up two runs in the bottom of the inning to make it a 4-2 game. Tyler Zupcic and Trey Holmes both singled and scored to give ASU back the lead.

Nick Schumacher pitched a perfect inning of relief in the seventh before Andrews came in to close the game.

Antolik finished the night 4-5 with four RBI and two runs scored while Geissinger was 3-5 with three runs scored.

The Panthers (22-27) will play a Big South series this weekend at Radford. Friday's first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.