Ryan Retz Leads HPU Baseball to a 4-2 Win at East Carolina

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The High Point University baseball team received a strong pitching performance from senior Ryan Retz on its way to a 4-2 win over East Carolina on Wednesday night in Greenville, N.C. Retz pitched 7-2/3 innings to pick up his second win of the season.

“This was one of the most controlled games we have had this season,” head coach Craig Cozart said. “Spencer Angelis and Sly Edwards were huge for us offensively. Ryan Retz was tremendous on the mound once again and John Maloney came in and slammed the door for the save. This was a great team effort and I was proud of our clean play in a tough environment. This was a good win for us.”

The win was HPU’s first-ever at Clark-LeClair Stadium. The Panthers are now 10-11 overall on the season. East Carolina falls to 11-10.

High Point jumped on the Pirates early in the game, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Senior Willie Medina was hit by a pitch to lead off the game and stole second before a double to the warning track in center by sophomore Spencer Angelis drove him in. After a walk by senior Ryan Retz, freshman Sly Edwards hit a line drive into right center to plate both Angelis and Retz.

HPU tacked on another run in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by senior Scott Glover. Angelis led off the inning with a double to left and was followed with a walk by Retz. After a sacrifice bunt by Edwards advanced both runners, Glover pinch hit for sophomore Mike Miedzianowski and hit a deep fly ball to the right field wall to drive in Angelis.

Angelis finished 2-4 on the day with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored. Edwards went 2-3 and matched his career high with two RBI.

Down by four, East Carolina got a two-run home run from Ben Fultz in the bottom of the seventh inning to make the score 4-2. Joe Cannon singled up the middle just ahead of Fultz who hit the first pitch he saw down the right field line for his first home run of the season.

Retz allowed just two runs in the game on six hits and a walk while striking out four. Junior John Maloney got the final four outs of the game to earn his first career save. Maloney struck out two of the four batters he faced.

Nick Durazo started for East Carolina and pitched 5-1/3 innings in a loss. Durazo allowed four runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four.

High Point returns home this weekend for a three-game conference series against Liberty beginning on Friday, March 22. The two teams will play at 6 p.m., on Friday and Saturday and at 1 p.m., on Sunday.