HIGH POINT, N.C. - Incoming inclement weather has forced High Point University baseball to make further changes to its schedule this weekend, as the Panthers host Gardner-Webb for their final home series of 2019. This Friday's originally scheduled series opener has been changed to a doubleheader starting at 3 PM, with the weekend finale remaining TBA until further notice.

The Purple & White are riding a seven game winning streak headed into this weekend's matchup with the Bulldogs, having won nine of their last 10 Big South matchups along with their previous eight contests inside Williard Stadium. Sitting just a single game behind Winthrop for second-place in the conference, the Panthers will be looking to continue their climb up the Big South standings this weekend, currently standing fourth overall at 13-8.

Gardner-Webb enters this week of competition after splitting a two-game series with ACC-foe Clemson, but has lost its last four Big South series to Radford, Winthrop, Charleston Southern and Campbell. The Bulldogs began the conference season 5-4 before starting their recent skid, and currently sit sixth in the Big South with a record of 9-12. 

SERIES HISTORY (D1 Era): 
High Point leads Gardner-Webb: 17-14
* Panthers on a three-game winning streak against the Bulldogs
** HPU has never lost a home series against GWU in D1 history

WHAT TO KNOW
Who: Gardner-Webb
When: 3 PM, Friday
Probables: High Point: RHP Harrison Smith (2-4, 2.37) | Gardner-Webb: LHP Isaac Campbell (2-4, 4.97)
Where: Williard Stadium | High Point, N.C.
Watch | Live Stats

Who: Gardner-Webb
When: After Game 1, Friday
Probables: High Point: RHP Joe Johnson (4-3, 5.88) | Gardner-Webb: RHP Landon Mitchell (6-4, 4.31)
Where: Williard Stadium | High Point, N.C.
Watch | Live Stats

Who: Gardner-Webb
When: 1 PM, Saturday
Probables: High Point: RHP Andrew Gottfried (1-4, 4.25) | Gardner-Webb: RHP Noah Davis (2-1, 7.44)
Where: Williard Stadium | High Point, N.C.
Watch | Live Stats

AT THE PLATE
• Sophomore Travis Holt recorded his first career Big South Player of the Week honor this past Monday, after going 8-for-15 (.533) across three Panther wins over UNCA, Elon and Wake Forest; he's currently on a seven-game hitting streak
• Freshman AJ Holcomb delivered his third homer of the year on a walk-off winner against Wake Forest this Wednesday, he earned Big South Freshman of the Week honors for his effort and is now slashing .341/.396/.636 on the year
• With 19 home runs and 40 doubles in conference play, the Panthers are now slugging .422 against Big South opponents this year, in comparison to a team average of .389 for the season
• HPU is batting .319 over its current seven-game winning streak, out-hitting opponents 69-49 and outscoring opponents 52-22 during that span
 
ON THE HILL
• Friday starter Harrison Smith's 2.37 ERA is the top mark among Big South starters this year, while his 6.57 H/9 ranks second to teammate Grey Lyttle
• Lyttle's 5.24 H/9 sits 12th in all of Division I baseball, while his 0.96 WHIP ranks 35th in the country
• Sunday starter Andrew Gottfried has surrendered just four earned runs over his past six appearances. He's recorded three quality starts in that span of time, holding an ERA of 1.42 over 25.1 IP of work
• One of his team's most reliable lefty relievers over the years, senior Matt Hodges made the first start of his career against Elon last week, holding the Phoenix to a single earned run over 5.0 innings

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
• Two of the most powerful hitters in the Big South play for Gardner-Webb this year. Chandler Redmond leads the conference with 15 home runs and a .631 slugging percentage, while Justin Kunz' nine homers rank fourth and his .541 slugging sits fifth  
• Despite batting .257 on the year, outfielder Chris Clary has been reaching first at a clip of .392, with his 30 walks tied for fourth in the Big South. The senior also has 15 stolen bases on the year, a Gardner-Webb best and the fifth-most in the conference
• Bulldogs closer Jarrett Thompson is the only Gardner-Webb pitcher with a sub-4.00 ERA in 2019, his seven saves are tied for a conference-best, all of which have come in Big South play

COMING UP NEXT
The Panthers take on their third ACC opponent of 2019, traveling to UNC Chapel Hill for their final midweek contest of the season on May 14th. HPU is 1-2 against the ACC after defeating Wake Forest last week, but have not defeated the Tar Heels since 2009.

#GoHPU