High Point, N.C. — The High Point University baseball team finished the three-game Big South Conference series versus UNC Asheville Saturday afternoon, falling 11-10.
High Point was led by redshirt junior
Christian Smith, who was 3-for-3 with a triple, while
Brayden Simpson,
Justin Ruiz and
Frank Kelly all hit home runs.
Miggy Echazarreta also recorded two hits and was walked twice.
Site: Williard Stadium
Score: High Point 10, UNC Asheville 11
Records: High Point (27-13, 11-4), UNC Asheville (13-24, 6-9)
Head Coach Joey Hammond:
"Incredibly disappointing game all the way around. We just simply didn
't do anything well enough to win a game. I'm really disappointed to with the lack of execution. We didn
't make any pitches; we didn
't get big hits consistently. You are going to lose a lot of games like that, regardless who the opponent is."
After conceding a run in the top of the first inning,
Konni Durschlag got on base on a single. Two batters later, Simpson smacked the ball over the wall to give the Panthers the lead, 2-1, heading into the second inning.
Smith scored after
James Murphy advanced to second on a throwing error.
Simpson found his third RBI of the game on a double, which scored Echazarreta after he doubled as well. The Panthers went up 4-3 a third of the way through the game.
In the top of the fourth inning, Echazarreta, from right field, threw out a runner at third.
The Bulldogs, however, took the lead on a double and an error. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the catcher Ruiz hit a sacrifice fly to score Murphy.
UNC Asheville extended the lead to three before Smith tripled to left-center field and
Jackson Melton scored to make it 8-6.
The Bulldogs added another two runs in the top of the sixth inning, but in the bottom half, Ruiz homered for the Panthers to bring the game back within three.
A Durschlag hit by pitch, an Echazarreta walk, and a Melton walk led to a Smith RBI single.
Dalton Olsovsky pitched a scoreless eighth inning with two strikeouts. Then in the bottom of the inning, Smith recorded his third hit of the game.
Frank Kelly came up to the plate and tied the game up with a two-run home run.
Despite a strong eighth inning, UNC Asheville took the lead 11-10 in the top of the ninth. High Point had a final chance with three outs to work with, but could not capitalize.
Dylan Story started for the Panthers and pitched 3.2 innings while striking out three.
Up Next: The Panthers will look to get back on track in a mid-week game against the Elon University Phoenix on Wednesday, April 23, at 6 p.m. back at Williard Stadium.
