HPU Baseball wins in 11 innings over Charlotte, 4-3

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Junior Spencer Angelis delivered the High Point University baseball team its first win of 2014 with a game-winning hit in the bottom of the 11th inning against Charlotte on Tuesday evening at Williard Stadium. The Panthers improve to 1-3 on the season with the victory.

“I am very proud of this team’s effort tonight,” head coach Craig Cozart said. “We played three difficult games, including two one-run games, this past weekend so to come out here and get a win in extra innings in our first home game speaks volumes about the character of this team. There are a lot of guys up and down this lineup that made plays. This was a tremendous team win.”

High Point and Charlotte were tied in at 3-3 in the bottom of the 11th when Angelis came to bat with Greene at second base after reaching on a fielder’s choice and picking up a stolen base. The HPU first baseman laced the second pitch he saw between the 49ers shortstop and third baseman allowing the speedy Greene to race home. The centerfielder slid in just ahead of the throw from left to give HPU the win.

Freshman Bailey Brown earned his first collegiate win after pitching two innings of scoreless relief for the Panthers. Fellow freshman Peter Ripke earned the start for High Point and lasted four innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits while striking out one.

Hunter May took the loss for Charlotte. May pitched 1-2/3 innings and allowed one earned run on two hits while striking out one. Brock Hudgens started for the 49ers in their season opener. The senior pitched three scoreless innings and allowed four hits and a walk while striking out four.

Charlotte scored first in the contest with an RBI single by Brad Elwood in the top of the third but HPU came right to tie the game on an RBI single by senior Kyle Brandenburg in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Cody Manzella drew a one-out walk and stole second before coming around to score on the Brandenburg single.

The 49ers went back ahead in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single by Zach Jarrett. A great defensive play by Manzella helped High Point avoid any further damage in the frame. The right fielder corralled a fly ball by Logan Sherer and made a throw to third to catch Jarrett who had tagged on the play. Des Roberts had tagged at third on the play, but Jarrett was called out at third before he crossed the plate, erasing the potential run.

High Point tied the game again in the bottom of the sixth inning when redshirt-junior Blake Hutton laced an RBI double to the wall in right field to drive in junior Tony Fortier-Bensen, who had reached on a throwing error by the Charlotte shortstop to lead off the inning. The scored knotted the game at 2-2

One inning later, High Point took its first lead of the game when Greene scored on a wild pitch by Charlotte pitcher Jordan Hudson. Greene reached on a fielding error by the 49er first baseman and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Josh Spano. The freshman advanced to third on Hudson’s first wild pitch of the inning then, one batter later, took home on the pitcher’s second wild pitch.

Charlotte tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the eighth inning with a two-out RBI single by Mikal Hill that scored Derek Gallello from third, sending the game into extra innings.

Angelis, Hutton, Brandenburg and junior Dane McDermott all recorded two hits in the win for the Panthers. Angelis, Hutton and Brandenburg also picked up RBI in the game while Greene scored twice for HPU.

Jarrett finished 4-6 at the plate with an RBI for Charlotte in the 49er’s season opener. Grant Dunnegan went 2-4 with a run scored and Derek Gallello finished 1-3 with a run scored.

High Point continues its current five-game home stand this weekend when the team welcomes William & Mary to Williard Stadium for a three-game series. The two teams met last season in Williamsburg, Va., with the Tribe taking two of three games on the weekend. The series will begin on Friday, Feb. 21, at 4 p.m. and will continue with 1 p.m., games on Saturday and Sunday.