HIGH POINT, N.C. - Junior shortstop Nick Natoli and senior rightfielder Kevin Collins each banged out four hits as the Tigers (1-9) erupted for 13 runs on 15 base hits but it wasn't quite enough as High Point (6-2) held off the Tigers and earned a 15-13 victory in the second game of their three-game weekend series at Williard Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
With the win, the Panthers extended their winning streak to five games in a row while the Tigers lost their eighth consecutive game.
Trailing by 15-9 in the ninth inning, the Tigers cut their deficit to 15-13 before Mikel Rodenberg retired senior Steve Yarsinsky on an infield ground ball to end the game.
Junior Eric Weller opened the ninth inning with a single. Two outs later, Natoli singled to right centerfield, putting runners on first and third base. When Collins lined an RBI single to right, the Tigers trailed by 15-10. Junior second baseman Chris Wychock pulled the Tigers to within 15-13 when he belted a three-run homer. At that point, Rodenberg relieved Corey Swickle, who nailed down the win.
High Point took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Andrew Bartlett led off with a single up the middle. Senior righthander Spencer Patton then walked Murray White. After Nate Roberts grounded into a force play, catcher Kyle Mahoney was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. A four-pitch walk to Matt Gantner drove in Bartlett to give the Panthers a 1-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Panthers rallied for five runs to knock Patton out of the game. With one out, Pablo Rosario reached on an infield error. A single by Mike Mercurio put runners at the corners before Patton hit Bartlett with a pitch to load the bases. White greeted relief pitcher Mike Bronakoski with an RBI single to give High Point a 2-0 lead. Roberts followed with a two-run single to centerfield, making it a 4-0 advantage. Mahoney's single to second base drove in another run before Gantner capped off the rally with a sacrifice fly to left field.
Trailing by 6-0 in the fourth inning, the Tigers staged a rally to tie the game. After being shut out for the first 12 innings of the series, the Tigers exploded to score six runs on six base hits. With one out, sophomore centerfielder Ben Winter singled. Weller followed with a pinch hit single before a walk to Kurt Wertz loaded the bases.
Sophomore catcher Bryan Wyman put the Tigers on the scoreboard with a two-run single to right centerfield. When Natoli singled to left, Wertz scored to make it a 6-3 game. Then, Collins launched a three-run homer to right field tying the game at 6-6. The Tigers made a try at taking a lead when Yarsinsky singled and junior third baseman Austin Harclerode walked. However, Winter popped out to left, ending the inning.
The Panthers came right back in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 10-6 lead. After Roberts was hit by a pitch and Mahoney reached on an infield single, Gantner doubled to left, driving in two runs to make it 8-6. With two outs, Steve Antolik had an RBI single to make it 9-6. Rosario followed with a single to right before Mercurio reached on a fielders choice, loading the bases. A bases-loaded walk to Bartlett gave the Panthers a 10-6 edge and knocked Bronakoski out of the game. Sophomore righthander Sean Bertrand came out of the bullpen to retire White on a popup, ending the inning.
In the top of the fifth, the Tigers came back again. With one out, Wertz walked and went to second base on a wild pitch. With two outs, Natoli singled to left center, driving in Wertz to make it a 10-7 lead. An RBI double by Collins cut the deficit to 10-8. Wychock's RBI single scored Collins to make it a 10-9 lead. Swickle then came out of the bullpen to end the inning.
The Panthers extended their lead to 12-9 in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs, Gantner drew a walk and Max Fulginiti singled. Antolik followed with a two-run triple to give the Panthers a three-run. After Bertrand walked Rosario, freshman righthander Michael Trionfo came out of the bullpen to strike out Mercurio and end the threat.
Swickle shut out the Tigers over the next three innings.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Panthers extended their lead to 15-9 when they added three more runs. Bartlett opened the inning by reaching first base on an error by Natoli. With one out, Roberts drew a walk. Mahoney's RBI single gave High Point a 13-9 advantage. After a walk to Gantner, Fulginiti singled to left field to make it a 14-9 lead. Antolik's sacrifice fly upped the lead to 15-9.
The eighth inning rally proved to be decisive when the Tigers scored four runs in the ninth inning.
Natoli led the Tigers by going four-for-five with three runs scored and two runs batted in. Collins went four-for-five with three runs scored and five RBI's. Wychock was two-for-five and drove in four runs.
High Point out hit Towson by a 16-15 margin.
The Tigers and the Panthers conclude their three-game weekend series on Sunday afternoon with a single game at 1:00 p.m.
