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Tuesday's Starting Pitchers
HPU: R-Jr., RH Jace Herrera
Charlotte: Fr., LH Matt Horkey

HIGH POINT, N.C. - High Point kicks off four-straight games away from home with a midweek contest at Charlotte on Tuesday, March 10, at 5 p.m. The Panthers are 9-13 against Charlotte in the HPU Div. I era. Last season, High Point picked up a 4-3 win over the 49ers in 11 innings at Williard Stadium. Spencer Angelis drove in Josh Greene as the winning run with an RBI single.
 
The Opponent: Charlotte is 4-5 on the season after being swept by No. 10 Rice over the weekend. The 49ers have wins over Akron, NC State, UNCG and North Carolina A&T this season. Four of Charlotte's five losses this season have been by three runs or less. Charlotte's pitching staff has been stellar this season, posting a 2.39 team ERA and a .229 opponent batting average through nine games. The 49er offense has gotten off to a slow start with a .212 team batting average and just 23 runs in nine games. Freshman infielder Brett Netzer has started all nine games for Charlotte this season and leads the team with a .387 batting average, five RBI and two triples. He is also second on the team in runs scored with five. Freshman left-hander Matt Horkey will make his first collegiate start against the Panthers on Tuesday. Horkey has made one appearance this season in which he allowed one earned run on three hits and a walk while striking out one in three innings pitched.
 
Probable Starting Pitcher:
• Tuesday: Redshirt-junior Jace Herrera will make his second start of the season for HPU on Tuesday. Herrera pitched 3-2/3 innings and allowed three runs, one earned, on four hits and three walks while striking out two against Appalachian State.
 
Last Time Out: High Point picked up its first weekend series in 2015, taking two of three against LIU Brooklyn at Williard Stadium. The Panthers opened the series with a 4-3 win in 10 innings in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader before dropping the nightcap by a score of 3-2. HPU won the rubber game on Sunday, 9-0. High Point scored two runs in the bottom of the 10th to come from behind and take the first game of the series on Saturday. Senior Spencer Angelis drove in the game-tying run and sophomore Josh Greene drove in the game winner. The Panthers bounced back from a one-run loss to LIU Brooklyn in the second game on Saturday but bounced back with a 9-0 win on Sunday. Sophomore Chris Clare went 4-4 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored. The home run was the first of Clare's HPU career. Redshirt-junior Scot Hoffman pitched five shutout innings with seven strikeouts to earn his first win as a Panther.
 
HPU vs. C-USA: Charlotte is the only team currently in Conference USA that the Panthers have faced in the HPU Div. I era.
 
Clare Shoots Down Blackbirds: Sophomore Chris Clare went 4-4 in the series finale against LIU Blackbirds with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored. The home run was the first of Clare's collegiate career. In three games against the Blackbirds Clare hit .444 with two RBI, three runs scored, a stolen base and two walks.
 
Manzella Starting Hot: Senior Cody Manzella leads High Point with a .340 batting average and seven RBI through the first 13 games of the season. The outfielder also leads HPU with four doubles and two triples. Against Ball State and Elon in Aiken, S.C., Manzella hit .500 with five RBI, two triples a double and two runs scored. He set a new career high with four RBI in the loss to Elon, the most RBI in a game since Brady Williamson drove in five against Longwood last season.
 
Fortier-Bensen Streaking Early: After struggling at the plate during his first season with HPU in 2014, Fortier-Bensen started this season with a bang, recording a hit in each of HPU's first five games. The shortstop is currently hitting .255 and leads the team with nine runs scored. Fortier-Bensen was one of only two players to start every game for HPU last season.
 
All About Getting On Base: Despite seeing his 22-game hitting streak come to a close against Ball State on Feb. 20, Senior Spencer Angelis has still been one of the top players in the country in getting on base over the past two seasons. The HPU first baseman has reached base safely in 45 of 47 games stretching back to last season. Angelis leads High Point with 13 walks and has reached base in 11 of 13 games this season while hitting just .156. Last season, Angelis hit .390 and led the Big South with a .490 on-base percentage.
 
Freshmen Making Impression: High Point features an experienced roster in 2015, but that hasn't stopped two freshmen from making themselves part of HPU's everyday lineup. Freshmen Carson Jackson and Hunter Lee have both played in at least 10 games and started at least nine games for HPU. Jackson arrived in a big way for High Point during the opening weekend of the season, going 5-8 with three RBI and two runs scored. He has played in 11 games with 10 starts is currently hitting .324 with two doubles, six RBI and five runs scored. Lee entered the lineup during HPU's three games in Aiken, S.C., and has now played in 10 games with nine starts for the Panthers. He is hitting .300 with three doubles, two RBI, eight runs scored and a stolen base.
 
Up Next: High Point travels to Charleston, S.C., to take on the College of Charleston in the Panthers' final non-conference weekend series of the season beginning on Friday, March 13 at 6 p.m. High Point is 0-3 against the Cougars in the Div. I era after being swept in a road series back in 2006.

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