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The High Point University baseball team clinched a series win against Winthrop with a 7-4 win over the Eagles in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Williard Stadium. Junior Josh Spano hit two home runs in the HPU win.

"I am really pleased we were able to pick up the win and clinch the series," head coach Craig Cozart said. "Mike Krumm did exactly what he needed to do on the mound. He threw strikes and made them put the ball in play. Our guys did a very good job at the plate against a quality arm and our defense continues to play well. We need to figure out a way to carry this momentum into game three and complete the sweep."

Senior Mike Krumm picked up the win on the mound and evened his record at 4-5 on the season. Krumm pitched 7-1/3 innings and allowed three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two. Senior John Maloney got the final out to earn his eighth save of the season.

Zach Sightler took the loss for the Eagles, dropping to 2-4 on the season. Sightler allowed six earned runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out four in six innings of work.

High Point clinches the three-game series with the win and improves to 22-16 overall and 10-7 in the Big South. Winthrop drops to 18-24 overall and 9-8 in conference play.

High Point loaded the bases in the second and scored three runs to take an early 3-0 lead. Junior Spencer Angelis led off the inning with a double, junior Brady Williamson was hit by a pitch and Manzella was walked to load the bases. Freshman Chris Clare drew the second walk of the frame to drive in Angelis for the first run and junior Dane McDermott hit a two-run single to stake HPU to the early lead.

McDermott picked up his third RBI of the day in the fourth, driving in junior Forcier-Bensen to put the Panthers ahead 4-0. Fortier-Bensen led off the inning with a double off the top of the wall in left-center and was bunted over by Clare before coming home on a bloop single to left by McDermott.

After Winthrop got on the board with a run in the top of the fifth on an RBI double by Clay Altman, junior Josh Spano delivered a big hit in the bottom of the frame with a two-run home run to put HPU ahead 6-1. Angelis reached with a walk ahead of Spano who hit a 2-2 pitch over the wall for his second home run of the season.

Altman once again drove in Babe Thomas for Winthrop's second run of the game in the seventh but Spano once again responded in the bottom of the inning with his second home run of the game. The junior hit a high shot over the wall in left-center for the solo home run to put HPU in front, 7-2.

The junior finished the game going 3-4 at the plate with three RBI, two runs scored, a double and two home runs. The two-home run game by Spano was the first for High Point since Ryan Retz hit two home runs against VCU in 2011.

Winthrop scored a run in the eighth on an RBI single by TJ Olesczuk and loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth. Maloney came in to get the final out and gave up an RBI single to Leighton Daniels before striking out Luke Maldonado for the final out.

McDermott went 3-5 with three RBI out of the leadoff spot for HPU while Angelis finished 1-2 with a walk and two runs scored.

Thomas finished 2-4 with two doubles and two runs scored for Winthrop while Altman went 1-3 with two RBI.

The third and final game of the series between High Point and Winthrop is currently underway at Williard Stadium. HPU can clinch its second series sweep of the season with a win over the Eagles.