Local College Baseball Today and the Sunday rewind

Today Monday March 22:
Tufts at Guilford College 3pm

from Sunday:
The Citadel 11
Elon 8

High Point University 15
VMI 14

Robbie Gilles (Geneva, N.Y./DeSales) came off the bench with a pinch-hit single in the ninth inning to score Nate Roberts (Spring Grove, Ill./Richmond Burton) and Kyle Mahoney (Patterson, N.Y./Carmel) and lift the High Point University baseball team to a 15-14 win over VMI Sunday at Williard Stadium. The Panthers came back to win in the bottom of the ninth after the Keydets had taken the lead with a five-run rally in the top of the inning.

“This was a very tough weekend,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “VMI plays the game the right way, they play hard and they fight in every game. This was a huge win for us and showed our character. It would have been easy to fold after giving up five runs in the top of the ninth but we didn’t and hopefully this win will get us going again.”

With High Point up 13-9 heading in to the ninth inning, closer Mikel Rodenberg (High Point, N.C./Wesleyan Christian) took the mound. He gave up a walk and double before hitting Alex Haitsuka to load the bases. Jacob Morley reached on a fielder’s choice but brought home a run to make it a 13-10 game. A single by Sam Roberts plated a run and Cory Spangenberg hit a single through the right side to score two more and tie the game. VMI took the lead on an RBI double by Tanner Biagini.

The Panthers trailed 14-13 going in to the last of the ninth inning and Devine quickly got the first two outs. Devine walked Nate Roberts on four straight balls and Mahoney reached on a single to the short stop. Gilles came in to pinch hit for left fielder Drew Geissinger (Asbury, N.J./North Hunterdon) and had both runners in scoring position after a double steal by Roberts and Mahoney. Gilles took the 1-1 pitch through the left side, scoring both runs and lifting HPU to the 15-14 win.

College of Charleston 6
UNCG 5

GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNC Greensboro scored one run in the bottom of the ninth and had the tying run on third, but wasn’t able to convert the opportunity as College of Charleston completed the series sweep over the Spartans, 6-5, on Sunday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.

Trailing 6-4 entering the bottom of the ninth, pinch hitter Drew Gehringer hit a single to right field. After advancing to second on a balk, Chris Barker was able to reach base on a throwing error by the pitcher, which allowed Gehringer to come around from second and score.

Harry Slade then stepped to the plate and was able to reach on a fielder’s choice. Slade advanced to second on a wild pitch and then moved to third on an infield single by Corey Overholtzer. With the tying run on third and the winning run on first, the Cougars were able to end the game by inducing a groundout to first base.

David Peterson picked up the win for the Cougars (17-5, 4-2 Southern Conference) after allowing three runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings of work. He took a no-hitter into the fifth inning as well. Tyler Hollstegge, making his first start of the season, was credited with the loss for UNCG (11-8, 0-3 SoCon) after pitching 4 2/3 innings and giving up four runs on seven hits.