High Point Baseball Loses On The Road At Elon, 16-7

ELON, N.C. – The High Point University baseball team dropped a 16-7 decision to Elon on the road Tuesday night in Elon, N.C. Senior Devin Bujnovsky went 2-4 with two runs for the Panthers in the loss.

Elon scored one run in the second and four in the third to take a 5-0 lead after three innings. Sebastian Gomez had an RBI double in the second and Alex Swim picked up an RBI double in the second. The big hit for the Phoenix came off the bat of Ryan Kinsella who hit a two-run home run to center field.

Trailing by five, the Panthers scored three runs in the top of the fourth including two on a single by sophomore Cody Manzella. Bujnovsky led off the frame with a single and advanced to third on back-to-back groundouts. A walk by senior Ryan Retz gave HPU runners at the corners for graduate student Adam Barry who singled through the left side to score Bujnovsky. Manzella then hit a single down the right-field line to score both Retz and Barry.

Elon came right back with six runs in the bottom of the fourth to open its lead to 11-3. The Phoenix got two singles and a walk with the bases loaded to score the first three runs of the inning before a triple by Chris King cleared the bases.

High Point cut into the Elon lead with two runs in the fifth on a bases-loaded double by sophomore Spancer Angelis, scoring senior Willie Medina and Bujnovsky. In the following inning, a sacrifice fly by sophomore Dane McDermott scored sophomore Mike Miedzianowski who tripled to lead off the frame.

Elon scored three runs in the sixth and two runs in the seventh to go up by 10, 16-6. The Panthers scored the final run of the game in the eighth when senior Sean Wilson scored on a throwing error by the Elon second baseman.

Angelis and Manzella both finished 1-3 in the game with two RBI for High Point.

Retz took his second loss of the season on the mound for the Panthers. Retz allowed seven runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out four in three innings.

Tyler Manez earned the win for Elon out of the bullpen after pitching 4-2/3 innings and allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits and two walks while striking out four. David Whitehead started for the Phoenix and pitched 4-1/3 innings before leaving with an injury.

High Point returns to Big South play this weekend with a three-game series against Longwood University at Williard Stadium beginning on Friday, April 5, at 6 p.m. The Panthers and Lancer will play at 6 p.m., on Saturday and 1 p.m., on Sunday.