HPU baseball takes series with 4-2 win over Army

• High Point claimed the weekend series against Army with a 4-2 win on Saturday.
• Freshman Drew Daczkowski pitched a career-high seven innings and recorded a career-high seven strikeouts for his first collegiate win.
• Junior Ryan Mason delivered the big hit with a two-run double in the first inning for HPU.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Freshman Drew Daczkowski set new career highs in both innings pitched and strikeouts as the High Point University baseball team clinched its weekend series against Army with a 4-2 win on Saturday afternoon at Williard Stadium.

“Drew Daczkowski was really good for us today,” head coach Craig Cozart said. “He was really in control and to get seven innings out of him was exactly what we needed. We played pretty good defense for the most part and are showing some signs offensively. Fortunately we were able to make four runs hold up. I am glad to win this series but want the sweep.”

Daczkowski pitched seven innings and allowed just two earned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out seven. The right-hander faced the minimum in each of the first three innings and did not allow a hit until the fifth. He improves to 1-1 on the season with his first collegiate win.

Tyler Giovinco took the loss for Army dropping to 0-2 on the season. The left-hander pitched five innings and allowed four runs, three earned on five hits and a walk while striking out four.

High Point improves to 6-4 with its second-straight win and claims its second home weekend series of the season. Army drops to 2-7 with the loss.

The Panthers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on a double from junior Ryan Mason. Juniors Austen Zente and Jordan Sergent both reached ahead of Mason who hit a line drive the opposite way into the gap in right-center to score both.

High Point doubled its lead in the fourth, scoring two runs to go ahead 4-0. The Panthers loaded the bases with no outs and junior Bake Schunk drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly. Sophomore Conner Dunbar then singled up the middle to score the second of the frame for the Purple & White.

Army got two runs back in the fifth but could pull no closer as Daczkowski combined with freshman Grey Lyttle and sophomore Matt Hodges to shut down the Black Knight bats. Lyttle pitched 1-1/3 innings and struck out two. Hodges then pitched the final two-thirds of an inning to earn his first collegiate save.

High Point will go for its first weekend sweep of the season when the team teams meet at Williard for the final game of the three-game set on Sunday, March 5. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.