Box Score BOX SCORE

The High Point University baseball team lost to Radford 5-4 Sunday in the final game of the Big South road series. The Panthers battled back from a 5-1 deficit and put two runners on in the ninth inning but were unable to tie the game.

The Panther bullpen put up zeros in the final three innings and HPU cut Radford's lead to one run with three runs in the sixth inning. Murray White IV led off the inning with a double and Scott Glover singled to left field to put runners on the corners for Kyle Mahoney. Mahoney tripled to left center to score both runners and make it a 5-3 game. Preston Packrall singled through the right side to plate Mahoney and end Radford starter Bobby Bolling's day. Jake Quig came out of the Highlander's and got the third out without a pitch, catching Packrall trying to steal second base.

Packrall singled to lead off the ninth and Drew Geissinger reached on a fielder's choice bringing the Panther's leading hitter Steve Antolik to the plate with one out. Radford closer Abram Williams got Antolik to hit in to a double play to end the game. It is just the second double play Antolik has hit in to all season.

“Unfortunately a couple of early mistakes cost us this game,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “This was a good ball game and I continue to see this team battling and making improvements. If we can take care of business next weekend then hopefully we will be playing really good baseball in time for the Big South Tournament.”

Senior Corey Swickle took the loss, falling to 3-5 on the season. He pitched 4-1/3 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits. Nick Schumacher and Spencer Andrews combined to allow just two hits in the final 3-2/3 scoreless innings. Bolling got the win for Radford, allowing four runs, three earned on eight hits in 5-1/3 innings of work. Williams earned his 14th save of the season.

The Panthers pushed across a run in the first inning without the benefit of a hit. Sal Pezzino walked to lead off game and moved to second on Geissinger's sacrifice bunt. Bolling made a throwing error on the bunt and Geissinger reached on the error. With both HPU base runners off on a double steal Radford catcher Daniel Wright made a throw to third that got away, allowing Pezzino to score.

Corey Swickle pitched out of trouble in the first inning, loading the bases with two outs before striking out Carl Travers to end the inning. After an inning and a half the teams headed in to the dugouts for a 44-minute rain delay. After the break Swickle took the mound again but gave up three runs on five hits in the bottom of the second. Brett Mollenhauer led off the inning with a triple and scored the first of three runs. Bake Sipe and Matt Hillsinger each had hits and scored before Matt Mack struck out to end the inning.

Swickle retired seven in a row from the Mack strikeout until the end of the fourth. To start the fifth he walked the first two batters and both would come around to score to extend Radford's lead to 5-0. Schumacher came out of the bullpen to get the final two outs of the fifth inning.

Packrall finished the day 2-3 with a walk and one RBI while Mahoney was 1-4 with two RBI and one run scored.

High Point will play a non-conference game at Virginia on Tuesday at 6 p.m. before heading to VMI for the final weekend of the regular season. Thursday's first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.