HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University baseball team fell to Presbyterian College, 7-2, in the rubber game of a Big South series on Sunday at Williard Stadium. Junior Jacob Newberry battled for six innings, allowing just two runs but took the loss for the Panthers.
High Point drops to 22-16 (7-5 Big South) while Presbyterian College improved to 16-21 (4-8 Big South).
Newberry pitched six innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits while striking out five and walking four. The loss drops the junior to 3-3 on the year.
Beau Dees pitched seven innings for his second win of the season. The Blue Hose lefthander allowed one run on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts to improve to 2-5 on the season.
Presbyterian got the scoring started in the third inning with two runs. Jay Lizanich led off with a single and came around to score on a double down the left field line by Billy Motroni. With two outs, Kenny Bryant knocked a single to right field to score Motroni.
After multiple threats in the first four innings, HPU finally broke through in the fifth with one run of its own. Dane McDermott singled to center field and advanced to third on a base hit by Sean Wilson. McDermott came around to score after junior Willie Medina reached on a fielder’s choice.
The Blue Hose threatened again in the sixth when two singles and a walk loaded the bases with two outs. With Newberry battled back and struck out Motroni to end the inning and keep Presbyterian off the board.
PC pushed across two more insurance runs in the seventh and eighth to bring the lead to 6-1. The Blue Hose added one run in the ninth for a final of 7-2.
Jordan Foster threw 1/3 innings of relief, Brad Zebedis, to pop out to third baseman Ryne Rush. The Panther pitching staff held the sophomore hitless in the weekend series.
Sophomore John Carlson gave up two hits and two runs in his first appearance since taking a line drive off his foot on February 25th.
Ryan Retz singled and scored in the ninth inning off Presbyterian reliever Buck Mosteller. Sal Pezzino had a single in the second inning to extend his hitting streak to 15 games, tying his career-long streak from last season.
The Panthers will kick off a six-game road swing on Tuesday where they will face the No. 8 North Carolina Tar Heels at Boshamer Stadium. Last year, High Point fell to UNC by a score of 4-0. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.