In Sunday afternoon baseball action, the High Point University baseball squad picked up a 15-5 win over USC Upstate at Harley Park in Spartanburg. Eight Panthers had hits while all 10 batters that were credited with at bats reached base at least once. Javon Fields led HPU, going 5-for-6 at the plate, scoring three runs, and tallying three RBI.
 
Site: Harley Park (Spartanburg, S.C.)
Score: High Point 15, USC Upstate 5
Records: High Point (10-18, 5-4), USC Upstate (18-10, 7-2)
W: Sam Garcia (2-2) L: Trey Miller (1-2)
 
The Panther bats were hot from the start, as Charlie Klinger reached on an error and Adam Stuart followed up with a single to put runners on first and second with no outs. Peyton Carr's sacrifice bunt moved runners to second and third before Blake Sutton reached on an error to load the bases. But a 4-6-3 double play ended the inning and kept HPU scoreless through the first. Sam Garcia was also rolling from his first pitch, as he retired the Spartans in order in the bottom of the first.
 

3 up, 3 down inning by Garcia in the 1st ?? #GoHPU pic.twitter.com/w64rFTIH3L

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) April 3, 2022

 
The Panthers exploded for five runs in the second as Javon Fields led off with a single up the middle and took second base on David Coleman's single through the right side. Both runners advanced one base on a throwing error during a pick off attempt. Miggy Echazarreta's 2-RBI single to shallow left center put HPU on the board first.
 

Panthers on the board! 2-RBI single from Miggy scores Fields and Coleman and we hold the 2-0 lead.#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/5b171Ba7r8

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) April 3, 2022

 
Echazarreta stole second while Jackson Melton singled to left field to put runners on the corners. Klingler knocked an RBI-double down the right field line to extend the run. Stuart and Sutton each used sacrifice fly outs to score Melton and Klingler and give HPU the 5-0 lead heading to the bottom of the inning.
 

We have a Charlie Klingler double!! HPU puts another run on the board!#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/HhwEmisMsX

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) April 3, 2022

 
The Spartans answered in the second with three singles that scored a run, but a 4-6-3 double play and a fly out ended the threat.
 
Fields led off another inning with his second hit of the day, a single through the left side, and stole second base with two outs. Melton's single to left field plated Fields to take back the five-run lead.
 

2-for-2 on the day and an RBI for Melton!#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/2RE4wkWr7e

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) April 3, 2022

 
Garcia continued to work on the mound, posting zeros in the third, fourth, and fifth innings. He finished the day with a career-high 5.0 innings pitched, scattering seven hits and one walk with one earned run.
 

Vaughan taking the mound in the 6th. Garcia finished the day with 5.0 IP, 7 H, 1 BB, 1 R. HPU 7, Upstate 1#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/Y2dXJrXzrF

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) April 3, 2022

 
HPU extended their lead as Cole Singsank led off the fifth with a double to center field and moved to third on Coleman's single through the right side. Echazarreta laid down a sacrifice bunt down the first base line that scored Singsank and left HPU with the 7-1 lead. The Panthers tacked on four more insurance runs in the seventh as Blake Sutton led off with a single to shallow left field and scored on Fields' RBI-double to center field.
 

Panthers add another! Stand up double from Fields scores Sutton, HPU leads 8-1#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/5jdEEnkBo5

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) April 3, 2022

 
Back-to-back walks to Coleman and Echazarreta loaded the bases and a wild pitch scored Fields. Another walk for Melton loaded the bases before Josh Deslauriers drew a walk that scored another run. Carr also walked and gave HPU the 10-run lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. Everett Vaughan held the Spartans at bay in relief for Garcia, striking out two batters in the seventh and finished the day with 3.0 innings pitched.
 

K@EverettVaughan3 #GoHPU pic.twitter.com/88GQbW2XhZ

— High Point Baseball (@HPUBaseball) April 3, 2022

 
Upstate mounted a rally in the eighth by leading off with a stand-up triple and scored the runner on a ground out. With two outs, the Spartans hit a solo home run to put two runs on the board. Back-to-back singles put runners on first and second, but a deep fly ball to right center was secured by Coleman to end the inning.
 
High Point used four walks and one hit in the ninth to score four runs and hold the 15-3 lead with a half inning to play. Sean Duffy took over pitching duties for Vaughan, but the Spartans put runners on base as batters hit by a pitch, singled, and another walked to load the bases with no outs. An error allowed one run to score, but Duffy responded with a strikeout as bases remained loaded. A fly out to left field scored another run, but Duffy forced the ground out to second base to secure the 15-5 win.
 
Up Next: High Point will play host to UNC Greensboro on Tuesday, April 5^th. The Panthers and Spartans will meet at Williard Stadium for their second matchup this season. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.