HIGH POINT, N.C. - High Point University baseball opens its 48th season in program history this Friday, competing in a three-game series with Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.

Entering their 21st season at the Division I level, the Panthers begin 2019 on a streak of 13 straight postseason appearances, and a runner-up finish in last year's Big South standings. With five of their regular bats returning for the approaching season, along with the majority of their pitching staff, the Panthers were picked to represent their conference in the NCAA Championship tournament by D1Baseball. Senior ace Andrew Gottfried received 2019 Preseason Pitcher of the Year recognition from the conference, while High Point returns three All-Conference selections from the previous campaign.

Due to some inclement weather, Friday's season opener will be played as a double header in lieu of Saturday's matchup, with game two of the series taking place upon the conclusion of game one. Sunday's finale is still currently scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch, tentative to any further neglectful conditions over the weekend. 

SERIES HISTORY: First Meeting

WHAT TO KNOW
Who: Old Dominion
When: Friday, 2 PM
Pitching Matchup: HPU: A. Gottfried (0-0, 0.00) v ODU: Nick Pantos (0-0, 0.00)
Where: Bud Metheny Baseball Complex | Norfolk, Va.
Watch | Live Stats | Game Notes

Who: Old Dominion
When: Friday, approximately 30 minutes at the conclusion of Game 1
Pitching Matchup: HPU: H. Smith (0-0, 0.00) v ODU: M. Maguire (0-0, 0.00)
Where: Bud Metheny Baseball Complex | Norfolk, Va.
Watch | Live Stats | Game Notes

Who: Old Dominion
When: Sunday, 1 PM
Pitching Matchup: HPU: J. Johnson (0-0, 0.00) v ODU: Ryne Moore (0-0, 0.00)
Where: Bud Metheny Baseball Complex | Norfolk, Va.
Watch | Live Stats | Game Notes

AT THE PLATE
• The Panthers led the Big South in batting average (.283), slugging (.432) and home runs (58) in 2018, on the way to a D1 program record 34 victories
• Travis Holt's .286 average and 26 RBI earned Second-Team All-Conference honors last year, while his .330 in Big South-play was the top mark among freshmen in the league
• Tanner Wells slashed .329/.376/.452 during his freshman campaign, trailing only Minnesota Twins draft pick Hunter Lee for a team-best batting average
• Catcher Daniel Millwee earned 2018 Big South First-Team All-Conference recognition after posting a .292 batting average in 2018 along with a .428 OBP and 1.000 BB/K
 
ON THE HILL
• HPU returns the bulk of a 2018 group that held Big South-bests in ERA (4.27), WHIP (1.34) and hits allowed per nine (8.19)
• High Point is led by right-handed ace Andrew Gottfried, as his 72 strikeouts in 2018 led his side's record-setting 450 Ks
• The Panthers closed out their season with a 6-1 record, with help from a pitching staff that registered a 2.35 ERA during that stretch
• Righties Harrison Smith and Joe Johnson will fit into the Panthers' 2019 rotation as well. Smith went 2-0 in his last three starts of 2018 with an ERA of 0.64, while Johnson recorded a 2.97 ERA over the final five weeks of the year to go a perfect 4-0 overall

SCOUTING THE MONARCHS
• With just seven conference wins last year, ODU finished dead last in the Conference USA standings. The program was ranked ninth in a field of 12 in this year's preseason coaches poll
• Old Dominion's Saturday starter Morgan Maguire recorded two complete games in 2018, leading returning Monarch starters with a 3.38 ERA
• The Monarch defense turned an average of 0.83 double plays per game the previous season, the top-mark in Conference USA

COMING UP NEXT
After their three-game series with Old Dominion, the Panthers will return to High Point for their home season opener against nearby rival UNCG on Tuesday. HPU split its season series with the Spartans at 1-1 last year, defeating the side 14-4 when playing inside Williard Stadium.

#GoHPU