GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The High Point University baseball team dropped game three of the series to the No. 9 University of Florida Gators 12-11 on Sunday afternoon.

Site: Condron Family Ballpark
Score: High Point 11, #9 Florida 12
Records: High Point (9-7), #9 Florida (14-3)

Head Coach Joey Hammond: "Obviously a very disappointing end to an otherwise positive weekend for our guys. So many positives to draw from but maybe more importantly, we have opportunities to process and learn how to be a better club at the end of games. I felt our guys completely outplayed the #9 team in the country on the road in every phase of baseball for 26 of the 27 innings this weekend. We have plenty of positive moments to draw from this weekend as we head into another Power 4 game on Tuesday vs Duke and then begin conference play next weekend."

The Panthers struck first in the opening inning. After putting runners on base, Christian Smith drove in the first two runs of the game on a double to left field. Jake McCarter followed with a RBI triple that banged off the left center wall to extend the lead. Seojun Oh contributed to the opening frame with a sacrifice fly to left field to score McCarter to plate the fourth run of the first inning.

Florida answered with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the first. and then had a four run second inning to take a 6-4 lead.

After a 2 hour and 11-minute rain delay, High Point responded in a big way in the fourth inning by batting around the order and erupting for six runs to reclaim control of the game. Jace Kohler helped start the rally with a leadoff double down the left field line and eventually scored during the inning, while Willie Ponce, Oh and Lane Allen each delivered RBI hits and Landen Johnson added another run by reaching base on a throwing error allowing Allen to cross the plate. HPU pulled away with a 10-6 lead after scoring six runs on four hits.

High Point added another run in the sixth inning when Smith came around to score on a McCarter single up the middle, extending the Panthers' lead to 11-6

Florida chipped away in the late innings with a run in the sixth and eighth innings, before scoring four runs in the ninth to complete the comeback and secure the 12-11 win.

Smith finished with two hits, three runs scored and two RBI to lead the Panthers' offense. Oh drove in three runs, while McCarter recorded two hits and two RBI. Allen also added two RBI as High Point totaled 14 hits on the afternoon.

Up Next: High Point will return to Williard Stadium to host Duke University on Tuesday, March 10 at 6:00 p.m.