HPU Baseball Drops Game Two Of Doubleheader To Campbell, 8-5

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The High Point University baseball team dropped the second game of its Sunday double header against Campbell by a score of 8-5 in Buies Creek, N.C. The loss evens the series at a game apiece heading into the series finale on Monday.

“We haven’t been getting quality starts for two weeks and that makes it really difficult when we have to get into our bullpen early,” head coach Craig Cozart said. “I was pleased with the way we fought back but we couldn’t get it done. We are still in position to win the series and I expect our guys to get it done.”

Senior Mike Krumm took the loss for the Panthers, falling to 3-4 on the season. Krumm pitched three innings and allowed five earned runs on six hits and four walks while striking out one.

Coley Thompkins got the win out of the bullpen for the Camels to improve to 2-0 on the season. Thompkins pitched 3-1/3 innings and allowed three earned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out one.

High Point drops to 13-12 overall and 3-5 in the Big South with the loss. Campbell improves to 19-8 overall and 5-3 in the Big South.

Campbell jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the game, scoring two runs in the first and three more in the third. Two Camel walks and a bunt single by Steven Leonard in the first loaded the bases for Matt Parrish who hit a single through the left side to score two runs. Two innings later, Parrish hit an RBI triple then scored on an RBI double by Clayton Brown. The CU right fielder came home three batters later on a single to center by John Reilly.

The Panthers got a run back in the top of the fourth with an RBI single by freshman Chris Clare. Sophomore Dominic Fazio worked a leadoff walk and moved to second on a walk by junior Brady Williamson before coming around to score when Clare hit a line drive to center.

Campbell came right back in the bottom of the frame with two runs on a home run by Matt Nadolski. Leonard led off the inning with a double to left off graduate student Jon Carlson. Nadolski followed Leonard and hit a 1-0 pitch over the wall in right to put the Camels ahead 7-1.

High Point pulled itself back into the game in the later innings, scoring twice in the sixth and once in the seventh. The Panthers put the first two runners on in the sixth when Fazio walked and Williamson hit an infield single. After a sacrifice bunt by junior Doug McDermott moved the runners to scoring position, junior Cody Manzella hit a single back up the middle to score both Fazio and Williamson.

One inning later, McDermott drove in the fourth run of the game for HPU with a single through the right side. Back-to-back singles by Spano and Fazio gave the Panthers runners at first and second for McDermott. The junior hit the first pitch he saw between the CU shortstop and third baseman to rive in Spano from second.

Campbell added an insurance run in the eighth when Parrish hit a single to center with a runner on second. Freshman Josh Greene misplayed the ball allowing the run to score, putting the Camels ahead 8-5.

High Point loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the ninth but Campbell closer Ryan Thompson got junior Spencer Angelis to strike out swinging to end the game.

Angelis and Brandenburg both finished with two hits in the game for High Point. Fazio went 1-2 with two walks and scored two runs in the loss by the Panthers.

Parrish led CU in the game, going 3-5 with three RBI and a run scored and Leonard finished 2-5 with two runs scored for the Camels.

High Point and Campbell will return to action on Monday, March 31, at 3 p.m. in the rubber game of their three-game series. HPU freshman Andre Scrubb will start for the Panthers as High Point tries to pick up its fourth series win of the season.