• High Point won its fourth series-opening game of the season with a 7-6 win at Kennesaw State on Friday.
• The Panthers tied the game in the seventh then scored three runs in the eighth to take their first lead of the contest.
• Junior Carson Jackson drove in the go-ahead run and finished 2-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.
KENNESAW, Ga. – The High Point University baseball team rallied for a 7-6 win over Kennesaw State on Friday in the first game of a three-game series in Kennesaw, Ga. The Panthers took the lead with three eighth-inning runs and held on for the one-run win.
“Tonight was the essence of a team win,” head coach Craig Cozart said. “Every player in the dugout was fully invested in every pitch. I am very proud of the guys on this team.”
The Panthers tied the game in the seventh on an RBI single by junior Josh Greene then scored three times in the eighth to take their first lead of the night. Junior Jordan Sergent walked to lead off the inning then came around to score on a double from junior Carson Jackson. The right-fielder scored the second run of the inning on a wild pitch and junior Spencer Brown scored the third and final run of the frame and his third run of the night on an RBI single from sophomore Conner Dunbar to put HPU in front, 7-4.
Kennesaw State scored twice in the bottom of the ninth and put the tying run on third before junior Rion Murrah forced a fly ball to right to end the contest and secure the win.
Jackson finished the game 2-5 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored while Greene finished 2-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Brown went 1-2 with a walk and three runs scored.
Junior Matt Hodges picked up the win with 2-2/3 innings of relief work to improve to 2-1 on the season. The left-hander allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three. Sophomore Andrew Gottfried got the start and dropped his ERA to 0.39 on the season after allowing four runs, none earned, on two hits and four walks in six innings of work.
Brock Turner was charged with the loss for the Owls after giving up three earned runs on two hits and two walks in 1-1/3 innings of relief work.
High Point improves to 7-5 on the season with the win while KSU drops to 6-7 on the season. The Panthers are now 4-0 in series-opening games this season.
Kennesaw State scored the first two runs of the game on an error in the third. High Point then answered right back with two runs in the next half inning to knot the game at 2-2. Jackson hit a two-out double to drive in Greene then came around to score on an RBI single by junior Hunter Lee.
The Owls came back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, but HPU answered again with a run in the fifth to pull within one. Brown doubled to lead off the inning and scored on an RBI groundout by junior Austen Zente.
High Point and Kennesaw State conclude the weekend series on Saturday, March 11, when the two teams return to Stillwell Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga., for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.