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The High Point University baseball team lost an 11-inning affair to the Elon Phoenix on Wednesday at Williard Stadium. The Panthers rallied to tie the game in the ninth but Elon answered with three unearned runs in the 11th inning to win the contest.

Freshman Spencer Angelis started a two-out rally in the ninth inning with a single to left field. John Siciliano pinch ran for the catcher and came around to score the tying run when Dane McDermott reached on an error by Elon first baseman Chris Bresnahan. Phoenix pitcher Jordan Darnell got a groundout to end the inning but the game went to extras tied 3-3.

Elon score three unearned runs in the 11th inning off sophomore Jaime Schultz who took the loss for High Point. With one out and runners on first and second Niko Fraser bunted back to Schultz who threw the ball past first baseman Sal Pezzino. Both runners scored on the error to give Elon a 5-3 lead. Zach Haile relieved Schultz with Fraser at third base. Fraser scored on a sacrifice fly to make the final score 6-3.

“A lot of credit goes to Elon. They are a quality baseball team,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “In a tight game like this the little things show up. Not executing in offensive situations and not defending well, especially on bunts, will hurt you in a close game. We have some work to do and we will get those things cleaned up by this weekend.”

Schultz took the loss, his first of the season and Dylan Clark picked up his second win of the year for Elon. Schultz pitched 1-2/3 innings of relief, allowing three unearned runs on one hit with three strikeouts. Clark pitched two perfect innings with one strikeout. The Panthers drop to 6-4 on the season and Elon stands at 5-3.

Each team put up a run in the first inning. Pezzino doubled to score McDermott in the Panther half of the first. Alex Swim had an RBI single for Elon.

The Phoenix took a 3-1 lead with a run in the fourth and one in the sixth. Jake Luce had an RBI double off Nick Schumacher in the fourth inning and Garrett Koster hit a solo homer in the sixth off Matt Armstead.

Mike Miedzianowski walked to lead off the seventh, stole second and scored in a single to right center by Ryne Rush to make the game 3-2.

McDermott finished the game 2-4 with a run scored. Joe Goodman pitched two hitless innings of relief and Will Resnik struck out the only batter he faced in the game.

High Point will host Mercer this weekend at Williard Stadium. The Bears are 9-1 this season with a midweek win over Georgia Southern. Junior Malcolm Clapsaddle (2-0) will start for the Panthers on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.