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Junior Ryan Retz pitched eight shutout innings to lift the High Point University baseball team to a 2-0 win over Charleston Southern on Friday in Charleston, S.C. Senior Sal Pezzino drove in both HPU runs with a double in the third inning.

High Point improves to 15-9 this season and 1-0 in Big South Conference action. CSU falls to 7-16, 0-1 Big South.

“We put together a nearly perfect game on the mound and defensively today,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “We were exceptional on the field and every single player contributed. This is a great start to conference play.”

Retz improves to 3-2 this season. He allowed three hits in eight innings with one walk and two strikeouts. Freshman Joe Goodman earned his second save of the season with a perfect ninth inning.

Dane McDermott started the third-inning rally with a single to the second baseman. Jaren Sustar slipped slightly while fielding the ball allowing the speedy McDermott to beat out the throw for a hit. Willie Medina worked a two-out walk to bring up Pezzino. Pezzino dropped a double in to leftfield to score both McDermott and Medina and give HPU a 2-0 lead.

Retz had allowed just one hit in the first four innings before Charleston Southern threatened in the bottom of the fifth. Chase Shelton led off the inning with a single and Walt Quattlebaum followed with a double to put two Buccaneers in scoring position without an out. Retz stranded them both with three infield outs to maintain HPU's 2-0 lead.

CSU starter Ryan Gunther went seven innings in the loss, dropping to 0-6. He allowed two runs on seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts. He retired eight in a row until Sean Wilson led off the eighth inning with a single. Charleston Southern went to the bullpen, bringing out reliever Corey Deighan. Deighan picked Wilson off at first and pitched around a walk to Medina to keep High Point's lead at two runs.

The Panthers continue the series at Charleston Southern on Saturday at 12 p.m. Junior Matt Armstead will pitch for HPU against Charleston Southern. He brings a 2-2 record and 3.58 ERA in to the game.