HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point University baseball team took on the Bulldogs of UNC Asheville on Thursday night to start the final home series of the regular season. The Panthers powered through to take the 6-4 victory.
Patrick Matthews and
Cole Singsank led the way with two hits a piece while
Miggy Echazarreta knocked out his first home run of the season. On the mound, all three pitchers put in work as
Gus Hughes started on the mound collecting seven strikeouts and
Dalton Williams finished out the final two innings striking out four of the six batters faced, earning the save.
Site: Williard Stadium
Score: High Point 6, UNC Asheville 4
Records: High Point 20-32 (11-12), UNC Asheville 24-26 (11-13)
Making a statement from the jump, Hughes started on the mound for the Panthers, holding the Bulldogs scoreless and hitless in the top first half inning. Transitioning over to the plate, High Point walked in a run after loading the bases off two singles, from
Brett Ahalt and
Cael Chatham, and two walks.
In the bottom of the third, Echazarreta put it on the Bulldogs with a 406-foot shot off the scoreboard to bring in three runs for the Panthers to make it 4-0 ball game.
UNC Asheville scored their first run of the game in the top of the fifth with a single-run homer over the left center field wall. The Bulldogs followed up with another home run in the top of the sixth to make it 4-2. After loading the bases, the Bulldogs closed the gap to one with a single to left field.
Josh Deslauriers came up throwing to hold the runner on third from tying the game. Making a pitching change,
Braden Halladay came in to get the third out and go into the bottom half of the sixth with the 4-3 lead.
The Bulldogs tied the game in the top of the seventh with their third home run of the game.
High Point held UNC Asheville from taking the lead by answering and adding runs in the bottom of the seventh. Matthews got the ball rolling for the Panthers with a double to right field.
Blake Sutton matched Matthews hit with his own ground-rule double to score Matthews. Singsank's single up the middle paved the way for Sutton to make it home and take the 6-4 lead.
Williams came in to pitch for the Panthers in the top of the eighth and ninth innings giving HPU a strong appearance on the mound. Three straight strikeouts retired the side in the top of the eighth while another strikeout and two putouts ended the game in the ninth.
Up Next: The Panthers and Bulldogs return to action on Friday night for game two of the three-day series.
#GoHPU
