HPU Baseball Walks Off With 4-3 Win Over LIU Brooklyn In 10 innings

• Sophomore Josh Greene drove in senior Cody Manzella for the game-winning run in the 10th inning in HPU’s 4-3 win over LIU Brooklyn.
• High Point scored twice in the 10th for the come-from-behind win.
• Greene and senior Spencer Angelis drove in all four Panther runs in the contest.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University baseball team scored two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to come from behind for a 4-3 win over LIU Brooklyn in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Williard Stadium.

“These guys made commitments to each other that no matter what the situation we were going to make sure we fight for every last out,” head coach Craig Cozart said. “That really paid off today. I am very pride of the toughness we showed. This game isn’t coming easy for us right now but I am excited that we figured out how to get a win.”

High Point trailed 3-2 heading into the bottom of the 10th after the Blackbirds took the lead on a passed ball in the top of the frame. HPU put two runners on with one out after a walk by freshman Hunter Lee and an error on a shallow fly ball off the bat of senior Cody Manzella.

Senior Spencer Angelis drove in Lee for the game-tying run with a single up the middle and sophomore Josh Greene followed with a single to center. Manzella slid just around the tag of the LIU Brooklyn catcher to give HPU the 4-3 win.

High Point improves to 3-8 on the season with the win while LIU Brooklyn drops to 2-2 in 2015.

Senior Conor Lourey earned the win for High Point after pitching four innings in relief. Lourey allowed two runs, one earned on four hits and two walks while striking out three. Senior John McGillicuddy started and took a no-decision after pitching six innings and allowing one run on five hits while striking out three.

Dustin Carlson took the loss for LIU Brooklyn after giving up both 10th inning runs. Carlson pitched 1-1/3 innings and surrendered two runs, one earned, on two hits and a walk while striking out one. Blackbirds’ starter Brian Drapeau pitched 8-1/3 innings and allowed two earned runs on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

Neither team was able to get a run on the board until the fifth inning when LIU Brooklyn got on the board with an RBI single from Tommy Jakubowski. Mark Hernandez led off the inning with a single and came around to score on Jakubowski’s ground ball single through the right side.

High Point took the lead one inning later as the Panthers loaded the bases on singles by Lee, sophomore Brenden Rivera and Manzella. Angelis drove in the first run of the game for the Panthers with a sacrifice fly then Greene put HPU in front with an RBI single.

The Blackbirds tied the game at 2-2 in the eighth with an RBI single by Anthony Capo. Jakubowski scored the tying run after leading off the frame with a triple off the wall.

Angelis and Greene accounted for all four RBI for High Point. Greene finished 2-5 at the plate while Angelis went 1-3 with a walk. Lee went 1-4 out of the leadoff spot and scored two runs.

Jakubowski went 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored for LIU Brooklyn while Jon McAllister went 2-4 out of the leadoff spot.

High Point and LIU Brooklyn will play the second game of the doubleheader on Saturday, March 7, beginning at 7:15 p.m. at Williard Stadium.