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The High Point University baseball team received a stellar start from senior Jacob Newberry to pick up a 3-1 win over Gardner-Webb in the first game of a three-game weekend series on Friday night at Williard Stadium. Newberry allowed just one unearned run in 7-1/3 innings of work.

“This was one heck of a ballgame tonight,” head coach Craig Cozart said. “Both starters pitched really well throughout the game. Jacob Newberry dug in and was able to put up zeros for us. It was good to see us come out aggressively and put up some runs in the first and make it hold up. This was a quality ballgame tonight against a well coached team so we have to make sure we come out tomorrow ready to fight.”

Newberry allowed eight hits and two walks while striking out five to improve to 4-2 on the season. The right hander allowed just three base runners to reach third in the game. Sophomore Joe Goodman got the final four outs of the contest for his third save of the season.

High Point jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as sophomores Josh Spano and Spencer Angelis each drove in a run in the opening frame. The Panthers began the bottom of the third with three-straight singles, the third of which was an RBI single by Spano to score senior Willie Medina from second. Angelis followed Spano and hit a hard ground ball up the middle which was mishandled by the GWU second baseman as senior Devin Bujnovsky scored from third.

The score remained 2-0 as Newberry and Gardner-Webb starter Matt Fraudin battled through five-straight scoreless innings before High Point tacked on another run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Graduate student Adam Barry and sophomore Dane McDermott led off the frame with back-to-back singles, giving the Panthers runners at the corners. Medina laid down a bunt towards first for a suicide squeeze and Barry slid in just under the tag to secure the insurance run.

Gardner-Webb scored its only run of the game in the top of the eighth inning with a two-out RBI single by Brad Collins after an error by Medina extended the inning. JJ Nazarro scored for the Runnin' Bulldogs after leading off the inning with a walk.

Fraudin was charged with the loss for GWU, allowing three runs in seven innings of work. The right hander allowed seven hits and a walk while striking out five.

Barry finished the game 3-4 at the plate with a run scored for the Panthers. Medina went 1-3 with an RBI and a run scored and Bujnovsky finished 1-2 with a run scored.

High Point and Gardner-Webb will meet once again at Williard Stadium on Saturday, May 11, for the second game of their three-game series. Redshirt-junior Jaime Schultz will start for HPU as the Panthers look to clinch the series win. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.