HIGH POINT, N.C. - Senior catcher Kyle Mahoney had four hits and drove in five runs as High Point University (7-2) broke open a close game with a seven-run sixth inning and handed the Tigers (1-10) a 15-4 loss as the Panthers completed a three-game sweep over the Tigers at Williard Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Panthers extended their winning streak to six games in a row while handing the Tigers their ninth consecutive loss.
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning for their first lead of the series. Sophomore centerfielder Ben Winter led off the inning with a walk and he advanced to second base when junior leftfielder Steve Rice reached on an error. Both runners moved into scoring position when Kurt Wertz grounded out to second base. Winter scored the first run of the game when freshman catcher Andrew Parker hit a sacrifice fly to rightfield. Jared Avidon pitched out of the inning by retiring junior shortstop Nick Natoli on a fly ball to rightfield.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Panthers took advantage of junior righthander Drew Permison's control problems to take a 4-1 lead. First baseman Steve Antolik started the rally with a double to rightcenterfield. When Pablo Rosario was hit by a pitch, High Point had two runners on base with no outs. A single by shortstop Mike Mercurio loaded the bases. Second baseman Andrew Bartlett drew a bases loaded walk to force home the tying run. Then, Permison struck out Murray White before retiring Nate Roberts on a popup.
Mahoney's RBI single to left field gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead. Leftfielder Matt Gantner drew another bases loaded walk to make it a 3-1 lead. When centerfielder Max Fulginiti was hit by a pitch, another run scored and the Panthers owned a 4-1 lead. Permison finally retired the side when Antolik popped up to shortstop.
In the fifth inning, the Tigers cut into their deficit. Senior rightfielder Kevin Collins opened the inning with a single to right. Then, he stole second base. An RBI double to right centerfield by junior second baseman Chris Wychock scored Collins to make it a 4-2 lead. However, Avidon retired the next three hitters in a row to preserve the 4-2 lead.
In the sixth inning, Rice led off with a single to centerfield and Wertz drew a walk. After Parker grounded into a fielders choice, Natoli reached on an infield error as Rice scored to make it a 4-3 lead. The Panthers got out of the jam when Collins lined into an inning-ending double play.
With their lead narrow to 4-3, the Panthers broke the game open by scoring seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Antolik led off the inning with a single up the middle. Back-to-back singles by Rosario and Mercurio loaded the bases with no outs. Bartlett gave the Panthers a 7-3 advantage when he lined a bases-clearing double to left center field. After Bartlett's double, junior righthander Tyler Bugna relieved senior righthander Austin Hurd on the mound.
After Bugna retired White on a fly ball, he walked Roberts. Mahoney increased the lead to 9-3 when he belted a two-run double to right center. Gantner's RBI double upped the lead to 10-3 before Antolik followed his second hit of the inning, an RBI single to centerfield.
Freshman righthander Mike Volpe finally ended the rally by striking out Rosario.
In the seventh inning, the Panthers added to their 11-3 lead. High Point loaded the bases when Bartlett was hit by a pitch and White and Roberts followed with back-to-back singles. Mahoney's two-run single to centerfield gave High Point a 13-3 advantage. After pinch hitter Mike Gragilla drew a walk, Fulginiti drove in two more runs with a single to left.
The Tigers added an unearned run in the eighth inning. Winter reached base on an infield error and scored on Parker's RBI single.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, freshman righthander Sean Thompson allowed a leadoff triple and a walk but retired the next three hitters in a row.
While Mahoney led the Panthers' 17-hit attack, Antolik also had three base hits.
Parker led the Tigers with two base hits and drove in two runs as the Tigers banged out nine hits in the loss.
