HPU Baseball Drops Final Game to Presbyterian College, 4-1

CLINTON, S.C. – The High Point University baseball team lost to Presbyterian College, 4-1, in a tight pitchers dual on Sunday afternoon in Clinton, S.C. Senior Jared Avidon pitched into the eighth inning and struck out a season-high six for the Panthers.

“The story of the game today was Bud Jeter of Presbyterian, he cut right through us,” head coach Craig Cozartsaid. “This was a bad week of baseball, no two ways around that. This team is still a good team, but we are not playing well right now. There is a lot of season left so we need to get better. We are still in position to accomplish everything we set out to this season.”

HPU took the first lead of the game in the fourth inning on an RBI single by freshman Brett Gemmell. SeniorWillie Medina singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Devin Bujnovsky to start the inning. With two outs, Gemmell hit a flair up the middle just past the infield. Both PC middle infielders collided going after the ball allowing Medina to score from second.

The Blue Hose scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to jump ahead 2-1. A one-out walk by Brandon Paul was followed by a double by Aaron Preston to drive in the first run. Preston moved to third on a bobble in the outfield by sophomore Cody Manzella and scored on a throw to first off a bunt.

Presbyterian College added two runs in the bottom of the eighth to go ahead, 4-1. The Blue Hose got an RBI double from Paul who then scored on a single by Preston.

Avidon took the loss for HPU despite a strong start by the senior. The right hander pitched 7-1.3 innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits and two walks. The six strikeouts by Avidon was the most in a game for the senior since striking out six against Gardner-Webb on March 25, 2011.

Bud Jeter threw a complete game to get the win for Presbyterian College. The right hander allowed just one run on six hits and a walk while striking out 13 HPU batters.

High Point returns home this week to play a two-game midweek series against Ohio University. The two teams will play at 4 p.m., on Tuesday, March 5, and Wednesday, March 6.