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Sophomore Ryan Retz pitched 5-2/3 innings and hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning to lift the High Point University baseball team to a 6-5 win over VMI Thursday in Lexington, Va.

Retz allowed three runs, two earned, on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts to improve to 1-2 this season. His three-run homer to left center field put High Point ahead 4-3 in the sixth inning, giving HPU a lead they never relinquished. Robbie Gilles was 4-4 in the game with one run scored and two RBI.

“This is a continuation of the good games we played last weekend but obviously this is a much better result,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “The guys have played hard for the last two weeks and I am very happy to finally come away with a win. Retz was great on the mound and his home run changed the momentum of the game. Gilles continues to swing the bat well and Corey Swickle and Spencer Andrews gave us huge outs from the bullpen.”

After four scoreless innings, VMI broke through first with three runs in the fifth inning. Sam Roberts doubled in a run and scored on an error by Sal Pezzino at third base.

High Point responded with four runs in the sixth inning, capped by Retz's three-run homer. Steve Antolik led off the inning with a single and scored HPU's first run when Murray White IV singled up the middle. White and Gilles were on base when Retz took the 1-0 pitch from Coby Cowgill over the left center field wall for his sixth homer of the season.

Retz went back out to the mound for the bottom half of the sixth inning, giving up a single to Alex Haitsuka to lead off the inning. He got two outs in the inning, moving Haitsuka to third before Swickle came out of the bullpen. Swickle struck out Rob Dickinson to end the inning and stranded the tying run at third.

Swickle went 2-1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits with one walk and one strikeout.

Gilles had RBI hits in the seventh and ninth innings to extend HPU's lead to 6-4 heading in to the bottom of the ninth. VMI started the inning with a single and a double to put two runners in scoring position with no outs in the inning. Graham Sullivan picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly to cut HPU's lead to 6-5. After a two-out walk to Haitsuka put runners on the corners, Andrews got Jacob Moreley to fly out to end the game. Andrews picked up his first save of the season.

Pezzino, Drew Geissinger, Antolik and White had two hits each in the game.

“We needed to start this series with a win,” Retz said. “I felt great on the mound tonight. I was able to fill up the strike zone and when they put the ball in play my defense picked up outs behind me.”

High Point improves to 24-29 (9-16 Big South) with the win. The Panthers will go for the series win Saturday at 6 p.m. Junior Cody Allen will pitch for HPU.