Panthers Baseball Fall to Appalachian State On The Road

BOONE, N.C. – The High Point University baseball team lost to Appalachian State, 6-2, on Tuesday in Boone, N.C. Freshman Ryne Rush was responsible for both HPU runs. He scored in the fourth inning and drove in a run in the eighth.

“I have to give credit to the Appalachian State pitching staff,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “They didn’t allow us to stack hits together. Jared Avidon competed on the mound all night and our bullpen was outstanding. We have over a week to rest up and get ready for UNC Asheville.”

The Panthers drop to 23-21 on the season. Appalachian State improves to 29-9 with the win.

Appalachian State scored early and led the entire game. With two outs in the second inning Trey Holmes doubled down the leftfield line and came in to score on a triple by Preston Troutman. The Mountaineers extended the lead to 3-0 in the third, scoring two more runs on back-to-back two-out hits.

The Panthers got one run back in the fourth inning. Rush led off the inning with a basehit and Josh Spano drove him in with a single through the right side.

HPU starter Jared Avidon walked the leadoff man in the fifth inning and the Mountaineers’ centerfielder Tyler Zupcic picked up an RBI to make ASU’s lead 4-1. Appalachian State added two more runs in the sixth inning, both off Avidon before he left the game.

Avidon went 5-2/3 innings against the Mountaineers. He gave up six runs on eight hits with four walks and one strikeout. Avidon drops to 1-4 this season.

The Panthers added a run in the eighth inning to make it a 6-2 game. Sean Wilson led off the inning with a triple to right centerfield. ASU went to the bullpen, bringing in Tyler Moore to face Rush. Rush picked up an RBI with a groundout to the pitcher that scored Wilson.

Rush finished the game 1-3 with a walk, a run scored and one RBI. Wilson tripled and scored a run. He was also hit by a pitch.

Three HPU relief pitchers, Kyle Wigmore, Will Resnik and Cody Manzella combined to keep Appalachian State scoreless for the final two innings of the game.

High Point is off until May 4 when UNC Asheville comes to Williard Stadium for a three-game weekend series.