• Junior Blake Schunk went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored to anchor the offense.
• Sophomore Matt Hodges worked 1.2 scoreless innings to collect his third save of the year and second in the series.
• High Point sent 11 batters to the plate in the sixth inning and produced six runs to erase a 5-3 deficit before holding on for the 9-7 win.
HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University baseball team picked up its second straight series victory with a 9-7 triumph over Campbell on Sunday in Williard Stadium.
The Panthers (16-15, 5-7) trailed 5-3 entering the bottom of the sixth, but rallied for six runs in the frame to build a 9-5 advantage. From there, the Camels (16-16, 5-4) were able to plate two runs, but sophomore Matt Hodges shut the door with a 1.2-inning save.
“That was a heck of a series to win because all three games were extremely competitive,” head coach Craig Cozart said. “We lost a gut-wrencher last night and bounced back. Plus we got down early today and could’ve tucked our tails, but we kept fighting. It feels good to get this series win because we didn’t always play great baseball, but we never stopped fighting.”
At the plate, junior Blake Schunk went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI while scoring twice to move his batting average over .400 on the year (.406). Likewise, senior John Greene collected two hits – including a double – and drove in a run in the winning effort.
On the mound, freshman Trevor Holloway worked 5.0 innings allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out two. Similarly, freshman Joe Johnson (3-0) threw 2.1 innings striking out three while allowing three runs to pick up the win, his third of the year.
Lastly, Hodges allowed just one Camel to reach base retiring while inducing up the final five outs. Hodges now leads the team in wins (5) and in saves (3).
Rounding out the offensive output, junior Carson Jackson and sophomore Conner Dunbar both registered a hit and an RBI. Meanwhile, juniors Austin Zente and Hunter Lee each tallied a hit and junior Spencer Brown recorded an RBI.
A day after stranding 15 runners, the HPU offense left just four stranded in Sunday’s win. On the other side, Campbell stranded 10 runners despite picking up 10 hits compared to HPU’s nine.
For the second day in a row, the Camels opened the scoring with a run in the first. But the Panthers bounced right back with a three-run rally anchored by an RBI double from Schunk.
From there, Campbell scored one run in four of their next five at-bats to build a 5-3 advantage.
However, in the bottom of the sixth the first seven batters reached base as Greene, Schunk and Dunbar all recorded RBI base hits. Meanwhile, Brown walked in a run, Jackson scored on a wild pitch and Sergent tallied a sacrifice fly as HPU racked up six runs in the frame.
Then, after Johnson sat down the Camels in order in the seventh, the Camels got to the freshman with a two-run homer from Drew Butler to make it 9-7 in the eighth.
But Hodges came in and took it from there allowing just one runner to reach base in the final 1.2 innings en route to the save.
The Panthers, winners of six of their last eight, visit Elon on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Then, due to Easter Sunday, the squad will host UNC Asheville on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.