HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Presbyterian College baseball team rallied
back from a three-run deficit but ultimately fell in the final game of its Big
South opening series against High Point on Sunday, 4-3.
PC (13-7 overall, 2-1 Big South) took the first two games of
the series but High Point (13-9, 1-2) held on to a one-run lead the Panthers
grabbed in the seventh.
The loss snaps PC's nine-game win streak.
Lefthander Jordan Pace (Charleston, S.C.) pitched all eight
innings for the Blue Hose. The junior's record stands at 2-2 after allowing four
earned runs and 11 hits.
Gabe Grammer (Irmo, S.C.) led the team with three hits on
the day. Tony Micklon (Sumter, S.C.) Andrew blasted the game's lone home run
and Andrew Williams (Augusta, Ga.) and Kyle Galloway (Mint Hill, N.C.) each
recorded an RBI as well.
High Point put together several hits in the first inning to
take a 2-0 lead and added another in the third to put the Blue Hose in a 3-0
hole.
The visitors from PC responded in the fourth, however, scoring
two runs to narrow the gap. Nate Chong (Duluth, Ga.) led off with a single and
moved to third when Kenny Bryant (Goose Creek, S.C) reached on an error. With two
aboard, Galloway drove Chong home with a groundout and sent Bryant to second
base.
Bryant later crossed home plate after another High Point
error and a Williams sacrifice fly to bring the Blue Hose within one, 3-2.
Micklon handed PC another run in the fifth inning with his
fifth home run of the year. Micklon pulled a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall
for a solo shot to bring the Blue Hose all the way back, 3-3.
Despite Pace's strong
pitching, High Point found one more run in the seventh that would prove to be
the game-winner. Pace secured two outs while giving up one hit to begin the
frame, but a pitch that struck Zach Tessier on a full count brought one more
aboard. A Kyle Mahoney single brought
the initial run home and though Pace allowed no more runs, the score was enough
for High Point to seal the win.
The Blue Hose returns home for a mid-week break from Big
South play when the team hosts Wofford on Wednesday. The first pitch is
scheduled for 3 p.m.
