HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University baseball team fell late to Campbell by a score of 3-2 on Saturday night at Williard Stadium. The loss evens the weekend series at one game apiece.
“This was another really good ball game today,” head coach Craig Cozart said. “Unfortunately we were unable to come out on top today. We didn’t take care of the ball with four errors and gave them some runs. When you are playing a good opponent those little things matter. Jaime Schultz pitched a great game but we couldn’t get the opportune hit. We need to come out tomorrow with the intent of winning the series and get the job done.”
With the score tied 2-2 in the top of the eighth inning, Campbell pushed across the winning run in the on an error by senior Willie Medina. Brent Graham was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. HPU starter Jaime Schultz struck out David Olson to get to two outs before a ground ball back up the middle by Elijah Trail was misplayed by Medina allowing the go-ahead run to score.
The loss drops High Point to 23-23 overall and 10-7 in the Big South. Campbell improves to 38-9 overall and 15-5 in the conference with the win.
Campbell scored once in the first inning and again in the fourth inning to take an early 2-0 lead over the Panthers. Michael Felton hit an RBI single for the Camels in the first and Michael Delucia drove in the second run with an RBI triple in the fourth.
High Point got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning when freshman Dominic Fazio sent a ball over the left-center wall for his first collegiate home run. Fazio swung at the first pitch and sent a no doubter over the wall to make the score 2-1.
One inning later, sophomore Josh Spano tied the game at 2-2 with an RBI single, scoring senior Willie Medina. The shortstop reached on an error to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt before coming around to score on the Spano single.
High Point put the go-ahead run on base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth but Spano hit into a force out at third to end the game.
Schultz took the loss for High Point despite a strong start, allowing three runs, one earned, on four hits and three walks in eight innings of work. The redshirt-junior matched his career high with nine strikeouts in the game. Sophomore Joe Goodman struck out three Camel batters in a scoreless ninth inning to finish the game.
Ryan Thompson picked up the win for Campbell with three scoreless innings of relief. Thompson allowed two hits and two walks while striking out two. Heath Bowers started for the Camels and pitched six innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits and a walk while striking out six.
High Point and Campbell will meet in the rubber game of the three-game weekend series on Sunday, May 5, at Williard Stadium. Redshirt-junior Malcolm Clapsaddle will get the start for High Point as it looks to clinch its third-straight Big South series. First-pitch is set for 1 p.m.