RADFORD, VA. - High Point University baseball took care of business on Friday night, winning the team's second series of the season, 7-4 over Radford.
Patrick Matthews continued his hitting streak from Thursday's game, leading the team going 3-for-5 at the plate.
Site: Carter Memorial Stadium
Score: High Point 7, Radford 4
Records: High Point (9-21, 3-8 Big South), Radford (7-24, 0-8 Big South)
Making a statement early in the game, High Point scored in the first inning off a double to right center field from
Cael Chatham. On through the next two innings, action was minimal until the top of the fourth.
Blake Sutton followed up
Charlie Klingler's double down the left field line with a home run that skidded over the right center field fence. Sutton collected his 11
th homer of the season.
Pitching through seven innings,
Gus Hughes handed out seven strikeouts, allowing only one run from the Highlanders.
The Panthers added three runs in the top of the seventh, extending their lead to five, off four hits. HPU placed runners on the corners before a single up the middle from Klinger led to one of the runs. The Panthers scored their next two runs after a Sutton single through the right side led to a throwing error by Radford's first baseman.
With the Panthers up 6-1 going into the eighth, High Point experienced some turbulence on the mound. The Highlanders attempted to take advantage, but a combination of
Everett Vaughan and the Panther defense held Radford to just one run with bases loaded.
Both teams added runs in the ninth inning. The Panthers led off the top half of the inning with a walked in run to make it 7-2.
The Highlanders made it interesting late in the game, keeping the Panthers on their toes. Loading the bases with two outs, Radford scored two runs off a base hit to left field. The Panthers needed one more out as the team had found themselves in their second bases loaded situation of the inning. A fly out to left field, caught by Klingler secured the final out of the game and the victory for HPU.
#GoHPU
