ELON, N.C. – The Panthers offense continued to dominate as the High Point University Baseball team defeat Elon, 8-6, on Tuesday night.
Site: Latham Park
Score: High Point 8, Elon 6
Records: High Point (27-23), Elon (19-28)
Head Coach Joey Hammond: "Really proud of our guys fight to the end and being able to pull out a tough game on the road. I think these type of games are really important if you want to be a championship team, because we didn't play very well overall, but yet were able to do enough to still win. The belief in the dugout is in a great place and I'm proud of the culture our guys have established."
Bryan Rivera got the Tuesday night start at Elon as he pitched the first two innings, allowing two runs, on two hits before Hammond went to the bullpen.
The bat of
Peyton Carr continued to stay hot as he smoked another home run in the first inning for his 11th of the season. Carr has homered in five straight games.
Elon grabbed the lead right back making it a 2-1 game in the bottom of the first after two doubles and an RBI by Connor Offshack.
Joey Tuttoilmondo took over on the mound in the bottom of the third after the Panther offense put up a zero. He sent the Phoenix down in order after snagging a come-backer to record the third out.
Konni Durschlag tied the ball game at two as he ripped an RBI single through the right side.
Dawson Harman came home to score and advanced Matthew Martinez to second. Tuttoilmondo had another 1-2-3 inning as he sent the Phoenix down with two ground outs and a strike out.
High Point tallied three runners in the top of the fifth as they got a bit of help off an Elon error to score the go ahead run. Durschlag reached on a fielder's choice as Martinez was out at second on the force, but
Patrick Matthews scored. Liam Dabagian picked off Durschlag after getting in a rundown to allow
Sam Schner to score before the out.
Dalton Olsovsky relieved Tuttoilmondo as he came in to work the fifth inning. Olsovsky had two runners on before a SAC fly let the Phoenix tally a run before retiring the side.
Nothing came across the board for HPU in the top of the sixth as Olsovsky also sat down Elon in order after Martinez gunned a runner trying to swipe second. High Point led 5-3 through six innings.
Elon's third error of the game scored Simpson from first.
Sam Schner with his first at-bat of the night banged one off the right field wall for an RBI and the seventh run.
David Keith took the ball in the seventh as he struck out the side sending all three batters down swinging.
Elon's bullpen worked to get the red-hot Panther lineup to go down in order as well in the top of the eighth.
Tyler Romanias relieved Keith as he was set to face the 4,5, and 6 spot in the Phoenix lineup. After a leadoff fly out to center and a double down the right field line, Shane Paradine sent one flying over the left field wall to crawl back to a 7-5 ball game. Hammond called for
Christian Baker to relieve Romanias with one out and a runner on first in the bottom of the eighth. Baker got his first batter swinging as Martinez hosed his second runner of the evening for a strike 'em out, throw 'em out to send the Panthers to bat in the ninth with the lead.
The Panthers added an insurance run in the top of the ninth after Simpson stole his way to third and tagged up off a bases loaded SAC fly by Martinez.
Chatham closed out the Panthers win for his fourth save. Elon tallied a late run off a solo shot by Kenny Mallory Jr. Chatham retired the final out of the ball game as Schner came down with it to secure the 8-6 victory on Tuesday night.
Up Next: High Point will welcome the Winthrop Eagles to Williard Stadium for a three-game set. The first game is scheduled for Friday May 10 at 6 p.m.
#GoHPU
