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The High Point University baseball team outhit VMI 8-7 but struggled to score runs, falling to the Keydets 4-0 Friday at Gray-Minor Stadium in Lexington, Va. Steve Antolik and Kyle Mahoney were each 2-4 in the loss.

“A lot of credit goes to the VMI pitching staff,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “In the early part of the game we were hitting balls hard right at people but that's baseball. We played solid defense and pitched well but the offense just didn't come tonight. We need to win this series so we head in to the Big South Tournament with the maximum amount of momentum.”

Junior Cody Allen gave up two runs, one earned, in three innings but took the loss. He had two walks and five strikeouts and falls to 4-6 on the season.

Nick Schumacher pitched 3-1/3 innings of relief and allowed one run on two hits with one strikeout. He gave up a solo home run to Graham Sullivan in the fifth inning. Zach Tessier pitched the final 1-2/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits with one walk and one strikeout. His lone run came on a solo homer by VMI catcher Alex Haitsuka. It is just the second pitching appearance of his career.

Mike Mercurio singled in the third inning, stole second and moved to third on a groundout but Drew Geissinger lined out to left field to strand Mercurio. Antolik led off the fourth inning with a single and Mahoney led off the sixth with a basehit but neither was able to score.

VMI scored two runs in the third off Allen. With one out Sam Roberts doubled, eventually moving to third on a wild pitch. George Piccarilli picked up a two-out RBI with a single to score Roberts. Piccarilli came in to score on an error by Ryan Retz, giving VMI a 2-0 lead.

Jeremy Brown earned the win for the Keydets, giving up just three hits in five innings with one strikeout. Michael Devine picked up his fifth save of the season.

Robbie Gilles had a base hit in the ninth inning to extend his hitting streak to a career-long eight games.

High Point (24-30, 9-17 Big South) and VMI (26-23-1, 13-13) will play the final game of the series Saturday at 1 p.m.