HIGH POINT, N.C. - Senior righthander Jamie Serber threw seven shutout innings as High Point University (5-2) handed the Tigers (1-8) a 13-0 loss in the opening game of their three-game weekend series at Williard Stadium on Friday afternoon. While the Panthers won their fourth game in a row, the Tigers lost their seventh consecutive contest.
Serber shut out the Tigers on three hits through seven innings while junior righthander Corey Swinkle and freshman righthander Zach Haile each pitched one shutout innings. Serber issued two walks and had three strikeouts in seven innings. Swinkle struck out the side in the eighth inning while Haile struck out one batter in the ninth.
Senior rightfielder Nate Roberts backed up the shutout pitching by blasting three home runs and driving in five runs. Roberts went 4-for-4 in the win.
The Tigers' offensive struggles continued in the first inning when they squandered a chance to grab an early lead. Junior shortstop Nick Natoli led off the game with a single to centerfield and advanced to third base when senior rightfielder Kevin Collins singled to right. However, Serber came back to strike out junior second baseman Chris Wychock. Collins was thrown out at second base trying to steal. Serber then pitched out of the jam by striking out senior first baseman Steve Yarsinsky.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Panthers took a 2-0 lead. With one out, Murray White singled. Then, Roberts gave High Point a lead when he belted a two-run homer over the leftfield fence.
The Panthers added another run in the second inning. Steve Antolik led off with a double to left centerfield. Antolik moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Sal Pezzinio. When Mike Mercurio was hit by a pitch, the Panthers had runners on first and third. Antolik scored the third run of the game when Andrew Bartlett grounded into a force play. Senior righthander Nate Curd retired White on a popup to end the threat.
After allowing back-to-back hits in the first inning, Serber held the Tigers without a hit until the fifth inning. With one out, freshman catcher Andrew Parker singled to left. However, the threat ended when Kurt Wertz grounded into a double play.
Curd also settled down after his rough start. He retired eight batters in a row. However, Roberts ended that streak when he led off the bottom of the sixth inning with his second home run of the game, giving High Point a 4-0 advantage.
High Point added an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth when catcher Kyle Mahoney reached third base on an error by the Tigers' leftfielder, Steve Rice. Moments later, Matt Gantner singled him home to give the Panthers a 5-0 advantage.
The Panthers broke the game wide open in the bottom of the seventh inning by scoring five runs off senior relief pitcher Austin Hurd. With two outs, White drew a walk. Roberts followed with his third home run of the game to make it a 7-0 lead. After Mahoney singled, Gantner drove him home with an RBI double. Centerfielder Max Fulginiti capped off the rally with a two-run homer.
High Point closed out the scoring with three runs in the eighth inning.
Making his third start of the season, Curd pitched six innings and allowed four earned runs on seven hits. He did not walk anyone and struck out three.
The Panthers outhit the Tigers, 15-3.
Towson and High Point resume their series on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
