GREENSBORO, N.C. –
Matt Little threw a scoreless 6.2 innings of work as the High Point University baseball team took the series win against Rutgers with a 6-2 victory on Sunday afternoon.
Site: First National Bank Stadium
Score: High Point 6, Rutgers 2
Records: High Point (5-11, 0-0), Rutgers (10-4, 0-0)
Head Coach Joey Hammond: "I am glad to get out of this with our first series victory of the year against a good club that's going to win a lot of games this year in the Power Five conference. We did the things that we've talked about that we have to do. There's still meat on the bone for opportunities to get better, but this feels good to finally get out of here with a series win."
Matt Little had the ball for the rubber match against Rutgers. Little took advantage of the opportunity he was given and was immaculate through six innings of work. Little shut the Rutgers lineup down as he went 6.2 innings, allowing seven hits, no runs, and striking out five batters.
The HPU offense had Little's back all game as they were able to produce runs to keep the lead.
It was a rubber match up until the fourth inning.
Sam Schner was up to bat with bases loaded.
Eric Grintz on third,
Brayden Simpson on second, and
Charlie Klingler on first. Schner singled to left center as he cleared the bases, giving HPU an early 3-0 lead in the fourth.
In the fifth, the pitching and defense fell apart for the Scarlet Knights. Allowing three more runs to come home and score. Klingler reached on an error with two men on, scoring
Brett Ahalt.
Simpson then hit a sacrifice fly to right field as
Konni Durschlag tagged from third. With Schner up to the plate, he took a ball that ended up being a wild pitch. The ball got to the backstop scoring
Cael Chatham for the sixth HPU run of the game.
Adam Grintz came in to relive Little in the seventh. Grintz struggled a bit as he went 1.2 innings, allowing two runs, on three hits.
Rutgers tallied two runs in the top of the ninth off a double and a sacrifice fly to right field.
Noah Carter took the mound in the ninth with one out. Carter recorded the final two outs and secured the series win for HPU.
Schner had three RBI's and Simpson and Klingler had one a piece.
Up Next: High Point will return to Williard Stadium as they host Elon for a mid-week matchup on Tuesday, March 12. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
#GoHPU
