HIGH POINT, N.C. – Nate Chong (Duluth, Ga.) hit two-run
double in the ninth inning to lift the Presbyterian College baseball team over
the High Point Panthers on Saturday evening, 3-1.
PC improves to 15-21 on the season and 3-8 in Big South
Conference play. High Point falls to 22-15 and 7-4.
Chong delivered a timely hit to break a 1-1 tie in the top
of the ninth after Gabe Grammer (Irmo, S.C.) entered the game in the bottom of
the eighth and shut out High Point for two innings. The victory
moves Grammer to 2-2 on the year.
Tied 1-1 in the ninth, Grammer took Aaron Preston's (Goose
Creek, S.C.) place at the plate and drew a full-count walk. Brandon Paul (Augusta, Ga.) then singled to move Grammer
to second, setting up Chong's double on a 2-1 count to put PC ahead for good.
High Point loaded the bases in the ninth on a two-out
hit-by-pitch, but Grammer forced a groundout to end the game and earn the win.
PC starting pitcher Chandler Knox (Columbia, S.C.) pitched a
stellar seven innings, allowing only one unearned run on seven hits while
striking out five.
Kenny Bryant (Goose Creek, S.C.) hit his team-leading sixth
home run of the season to the tie the game in the fourth. Chong, Paul and Robby Swab (Kernersville, N.C.) led the Blue Hose with two
hits each.
The Panthers used a Blue Hose miscue to score its lone run in
the second inning. The Panthers put runners at second and third before a double
play moved the inning one out from ending. An infield error allowed High Point
score on the next play, however, and the home side led by one.
PC evened the score in the top of the fourth inning. Bryant
led off for the Blue Hose and smacked a 1-1 pitch over the fence in right
centerfield to tie the game. The home run marked Bryant's second in three
games.
Knox silenced the Panthers' bats, allowing only two hits
after the second inning before Grammer entered the game in the eighth.
The Blue Hose threatened in the top of the eighth, putting
the go-ahead run 90 feet away at third base. Andrew Williams (Augusta, Ga.)
drew a leadoff walk and moved to third on a pair of outs. The Panthers then
walked Bryant to put runners on the corners, but High Point catcher Spencer
Angelis caught Bryant stealing to end the frame.
Three High Point players tallied two hits apiece and
reliever Joe Goodman took the loss after tossing three innings of two-run,
two-hit relief.
The two sides meet in the rubber match Sunday at 1 p.m. Live
video will be available on the Big South Network.
Presbyterian College 3, High Point 1 (04-14-12 at High Point, N.C.)
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Presbyterian College 000 100 002 - 3 7 3 (15-21, 3-8)
High Point.......... 010 000 000 - 1 9 0 (22-15, 7-4)
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Pitchers: Presbyterian College - KNOX, Chandler; GRAMMER, Gabe(8) and ZEBEDIS, Brad.
High Point - ARMSTEAD, M.; GOODMAN, J.(7) and ANGELIS, S..
Win-GRAMMER, Gabe(2-2) Loss-GOODMAN, J.(5-1) T-2:29 A-508
HR PC - BRYANT, Kenny (6).
ARMSTEAD, M. faced 1 batter in the 7th.
KNOX, C. faced 1 batter in the 8th.
