HPU Baseball Loses To William & Mary In 10 Innings, 4-2

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University baseball team went to extra innings for the second-straight game on Friday evening before falling to William & Mary by a score of 4-2 in 10 innings to open a three-game series at Williard Stadium. Junior John McGillicuddy walked away with a no-decision despite pitching seven innings and allowing just two runs.

“We are just not performing at the plate right now,” head coach Craig Cozart said. “This game is very simple. William & Mary took advantage when they got men on base with two home runs. John McGillicuddy pitched a very good game and unfortunately we couldn’t come through for him with some runs. We will regroup and try to do better the rest of the weekend.”

High Point and William & Mary were tied at 2-2 in the 10th inning when the Tribe’s Ryan Lindemuth connected for a two-run home run, his second of the game, to give William & Mary the 4-2 win.

Senior John Maloney took the loss for High Point after allowing the Lindemuth home run. The right-hander pitched 2-2/3 innings and allowed two earned runs on one hit and one walk while striking out one.

Joseph Gaouette got the win for The Tribe with one inning of scoreless relief while Kevin Casey picked up the save.

Neither starter figured in the decision but both pitched well on the night. McGillicuddy pitched seven innings and allowed two earned runs on four hits while striking out one. W&M starter Jason Inghram pitched eight innings and allowed two earned runs on seven hits while striking out eight.

McGillicuddy and Inghram battled through five scoreless innings before William & Mary broke the scoreless stalemate with a two-run home run by Lindemuth. Nick Thompson was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame just before the Lindemuth home run.

High Point got a run back in the bottom of the inning on an RBI groundout by junior Spencer Angelis. Junior Josh Spano led off the inning with a long shot to center that hit off the top of the wall for a double. The catcher took third when Inghram sent a pickoff throw into centerfield then scored on Angelis’ hard grounder to second.

The Panthers tied the game one inning later when senior Kyle Brandenburg scored on a wild pitch to knot the game at 2-2. The HPU third baseman hit a one-out double to left-center and moved to third one batter later on a grounder by freshman Josh Greene. After an intentional walk to Spano, Inghram threw a ball into the dirt on his second pitch to Angelis. The ball bounced back between the mound and the plate allowing Brandenburg to scurry home.

Brandenburg went 2-4 with two doubles and a run scored for the Panthers in the loss. Spano finished the game 1-3 at the plate with a run scored and two walks. Junior Cody Manzella was the only HPU player besides Brandenburg to record multiple hits on the night, finishing 2-4 at the plate.

Lindemuth went 2-5 in the game for William & Mary and drove in all four Tribe runs. Kevin Nutter went 2-4 in the contest and scored a run.

The loss to William & Mary drops High Point to 1-4 to start the 2014 season while the Tribe improves to 3-2.

High Point and William & Mary return to Williard Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 1 p.m. for the second game of their three-game weekend series. Senior Mike Krumm will take the mound for HPU against the Tribe’s Mitchell Akers.