HPU Baseball Game vs. Quinnipiac Cancelled After Four Innings

HIGH POINT, N.C. -The High Point University baseball game against Quinnipiac was cancelled after four innings when a thunderstorm in the area caused the field to become unplayable. The Panthers led, 5-0, when the game was called.

High Point took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when freshman Josh Greene scored on a grounder by sophomore Brett Gemmell. Greene led off with a double to left-center on the first pitch and then moved to third on a single through the left side by junior Josh Spano.

HPU doubled its lead in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by Spano. HPU put runners on second and third with one out when senior Kyle Brandenburg was hit by a pitch and Greene singled to left. Spano hit a hard grounder between first and second that was knocked down at the edge of the infield. Brandenburg scored but Greene was thrown out at home.

High Point scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend its lead to 5-0. The Panthers loaded the bases on three-straight singles by junior Spencer Angelis, junior Cody Manzella and freshman Chris Clare. JuniorDane McDermott drove in the first run of the inning with a grounder over the first-base bag. Junior Tony Fortier-Bensen then doubled to left-center to score Manzella and Clare.

Following the fourth, the game was stopped due to a thunderstorm that rolled through the High Point area. The storm flooded the field causing the game to be cancelled.

Freshman Peter Ripke started the game for High Point on the mound and pitched four scoreless innings. Ripke allowed three hits in four innings of work.

Greene was 2-3 in the game with one run scored. Spano and Manzella both went 2-2 with Spano picking up an RBI and Manzella scoring a run. Fortier-Bensen was 1-2 with two RBI.

High Point returns to action on Friday, March 14, when the team opens Big South play with a three-game series against South Division favorite Coastal Carolina. The two teams will play at 6 p.m., on Friday, then again at 4 p.m., on Saturday and 1 p.m., on Sunday.