The High Point University baseball club used a 12-2 victory over Gardner-Webb to even up the weekend series heading into Sunday's afternoon finale. Teddy Merritt earned the win on the mound while Everett Vaughan picked up his first career save. Adam Stuart led HPU with four hits on the day.

First @BigSouthSports W. #GoHPU pic.twitter.com/4VZSTODXie

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) March 19, 2022

 
Site: Bill Masters Field (Boiling Springs, N.C.)
Score: High Point 12, Gardner-Webb 2
Records: High Point (5-14, 1-1), Gardner-Webb (9-12, 1-1)
W: Teddy Merritt (2-3) S: Everett Vaughan (1) L: Tyler Switalski (1-3)
 
HPU was first on the board in the second inning, as Blake Sutton led off with a double to right center before Brady Pearre reached on a fielder's choice. Josh Deslauriers followed with a triple to left center and recorded the Panthers' first three-bagger of the season, picking up two RBI.

2-RBI TRIPLE for @joshdeslo2 gets us on the board early!

> first Deslauriers career triple
> first HPU triple in 2022#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/vXUBuSR6SU

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) March 19, 2022

 
Jackson Melton walked to put runners on the corners and advanced to second on a ground out. Javon Fields picked up an infield single, scoring Deslauriers and moving Melton to third base. The Panthers tacked on two more runs in both the third and fourth innings as Pearre scored on Melton's ground out to second base and Deslauriers scored as Fields reached base on an error.

Through four in Boiling Springs.#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/Ox7vx2PLka

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) March 19, 2022

 
With the bases loaded again in the fourth, Pearre knocked in another run as he reached base on a fielder's choice and scored Peyton Carr. Deslauriers' picked up his third hit on the day with a bunt single that scored Cole Singsank.
 
Meanwhile on the mound, Teddy Merritt held the Runnin' Bulldogs scoreless through five innings. Merritt finished the day with 5.2 innings pitched and nine strikeouts while only giving up two runs and scattering five hits.

End 5 | @Tgmerritt34 with four strikeouts in the fifth inning ?? He's got 8 Ks through 5.0 IP. #GoHPU pic.twitter.com/lNexkzUEwL

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) March 19, 2022

 
Gardner-Webb used two hits in the bottom of the sixth to score two runs to pull back within 8-2, but HPU would respond in the eighth and ninth. Singsank knocked a homer to center field in the eighth before Stuart scored Miggy Echazarreta in the ninth on a single.

End 5 | @Tgmerritt34 with four strikeouts in the fifth inning ?? He's got 8 Ks through 5.0 IP. #GoHPU pic.twitter.com/lNexkzUEwL

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) March 19, 2022

 
With Stuart on base, Carr sent a home run of his own off the scoreboard in right center to give the Panthers the 10-run lead.

ANOTHER ONE ??@PeytonCarr11 launches a 2-RBI ball off the scoreboard in right center! HPU leads it 12-2 in the 9th. #GoHPU pic.twitter.com/QONBj8RZAM

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) March 19, 2022

 
Everett Vaughan finished the day on the mound for HPU, striking out three batters in 3.1 innings of work and giving up only one hit to pick up the save.
 
Up Next: High Point finishes out the series in Boiling Springs tomorrow (Sunday, March 20^th) with a 2 p.m. first pitch. HPU is looking for their first Big South series win since last season's 2-1 weekend over Winthrop (April 30^th – May 1^st).