Box Score (PDF)
• High Point went on the road and picked up a 10-6 win at NC Central on Wednesday in Durham.
• Junior
Hunter Lee went 3-4 in the win with a home run and three RBI.
• Sophomore
Matt Hodges threw 2-1/3 scoreless innings of relief to earn his team-high fourth win of the season.
Durham, N.C. – The High Point University baseball team got back in the win column with a 10-6 victory on the road at NC Central on Wednesday night in Durham, N.C. Junior
Hunter Lee had three hits, including a home run, and three RBI in the win for the Panthers.
"It feels great to get the win tonight," head coach
Craig Cozart said. "
Cooper Jeffers got us off on the right foot on the mound and our hitters showed patience at the plate.
Hunter Lee had a very nice game with a two-run home run and our bullpen did a nice job taking care of the lead. This was a solid overall team win."
Lee finished 3-4 at the plate with a home run and a double. The HPU second baseman also scored two runs to go along with his three RBI. Freshman
Cody Oerther went 2-4 with two RBI and two runs scored while junior
Blake Schunk went 1-4 with a double and two runs scored.
Sophomore
Matt Hodges notched his team-high fourth win of the season with 2-1/3 innings of scoreless relief. The left-hander allowed just two hits while striking out two and improved to 4-1 for the season.
Chris Gonnelli dropped to 0-3 for Central after allowing three runs, two earned on two walks in one-plus innings of work.
The win improves High Point's record to 11-13 overall on the season while NC Central drops to 13-13 for the year.
High Point scored five runs in the second on just one hit to take a 5-0 lead over the hosts. After the Panthers loaded the bases on an error and two walks, Oerther drew a bases-loaded walk for the first run of the contest. Lee followed with an RBI single then sophomore
Conner Dunbar and junior
Austen Zente drew back-to-back bases-loaded walks. Lee scored the final run of the frame on a double play to put High Point ahead by five.
The Panthers added three runs in the following inning to push the lead to 8-0. Schunk hit a double and came around to score on a single by Oerther who scored himself when Lee hit his third home run of the season. The HPU second baseman turned on a 2-0 pitch and hit a high shot over the wall in right.
After NC Central scored two in the bottom of the third and one in the fourth to pull to within five at 8-3, the Panthers scored again in the sixth as Dunbar reached on a bunt single and came around to score on an error by the Eagles.
NC Central scored a run in the seventh on a home run by Jake Raby, but High Point answered in the ninth when Greene scored on a throwing error during a double steal.
The hosts scored twice in the ninth to close to within four, but junior
Carson Jackson closed out the inning with a ground out to secure a 10-6 win.
High Point hosts its first Big South series of the season this weekend when it welcomes Gardner-Webb to Williard Stadium. The series begins on Friday, March 31, at 6 p.m.
#GoHPU
