HIGH POINT ROLLS PASS FURMAN 7-1
High Point, NC -- Two seniors and a freshman stepped forward to give High Point University a 7-1 win over visiting Furman on senior day at Alumni Field Tuesday afternoon.
Senior shortstop Kirk Harris gave HPU (19-27, 5-11) the early 1-0 lead when he belted his 7th home run of the season over the right field fence. Later in the inning, Colin Cronin added an RBI double and John Cavanaugh smashed his 10th home run of the season, and third in as many games, for a 4-0 Panther lead after 5 complete innings.
A Danny Ruekel RBI single for the Paladins brought Furman University (30-22, 18-11) back to within 3 runs, but the Panther would come right back.
HPU's Matt O'Neill would add the fifth Panther run, scoring on a bases loaded balk. Team hits leader Michael Lowman and Cronin would both manage RBI singles in later on in the 6th frame, putting High Point up for good, 7-1.
Freshman starting pitcher Phil Leake (1-1) earned his first win of the season for the Panthers, throwing 5.0 complete innings, allowing just one earned run while striking out one. Senior closer Jason Brennan threw the remaining 4.0 innings for High Point, earning his 8th save of the season while fanning 2.
Kyle Funk (0-1) took the loss for the visitors as he threw 5.1 innings, yielding 6 earned runs while striking out 3. The Panthers honored seniors Harris and Brennan before the game as is custom on the final home contest of the season.
Furman closes out the regular season tomorrow at Furman Baseball Stadium against nationally ranked Clemson. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.