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The High Point University baseball team fell to No. 3 seed Campbell in the Big South Semifinals on Saturday morning by a score of 3-1. The loss was the Panthers' first in the double-elimination tournament. High Point and Campbell will now face each other in a winner-take-all seven-inning game at 5 p.m., in Rock Hill, S.C.
"Today's game came down to two bases-loaded situations," head coach
Craig Cozart said. "We loaded the bases in the first and couldn't get anything out of it, they loaded the bases in the fifth and put three on the board. In a close game when you get an opportunity or two with runners in scoring position you have to cash in and we didn't do that. We are still in position to accomplish what our ultimate goal is so we will get ready to play seven innings this evening."
Graduate student
Jon Carlson suffered the loss for the Panthers, dropping to 2-3 on the season. Carlson pitched 4-1/3 innings and allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out one. The left-hander left the game in the fifth with the score still 0-0 and a runner on first who eventually scored.
Heath Bowers got the start for Campbell and pitched 6-1/3 innings to improve to 10-3 on the season. Bowers allowed just one run on seven hits and a walk while striking out eight. Ryan Thompson pitched the final 2-2/3 innings and allowed just two hits while striking out two to earn his league-best 17th save of the season.
Campbell ended a scoreless stalemate in the fifth inning, scoring three runs with two outs to go ahead, 3-0. The Camels loaded the bases with one out on a bunt single, a walk and a single to right. Junior
Conor Lourey came in and got a strikeout for the second out before a passed ball allowed the first run to score and a bases-loaded single by Seth LaRue drove in two more.
High Point got a run back in the seventh, scoring on an RBI single by junior
Josh Spano to pull to within two at 3-1. Freshman
Chris Clare led off the inning with a single and came around to score from second when Spano hit a two-out single through the right side.
The Panthers got the tying run to the plate in the ninth after junior
Dane McDermott hit a one-out double but junior Brady Willimson was called out on strikes and junior
Spencer Angelis grounded out to second to end the game.
Williamson and Spano each had two hits in the game for the Panthers as Williamson went 2-5 and Spano went 2-4 with an RBI.
The Panthers and Camels will return to Winthrop Ballpark at 5 p.m. for the second and final game of their Big South Semifinal matchup.Â
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