FURMAN LOSES SLUGFEST WITH HIGH POINT, 12-8
HIGH POINT, N.C.-- Ryan Lurate earned the first victory of his career and High Point won its fifth game in six tries Wednesday afternoon with a 12-8 conquest of Furman at Erath Field.
High Point took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on the first of Matt Richardson's four hits, an RBI single which scored Kemp Smith. The Panthers plated two more in the third on an Andy Harney sacrifice fly and a wild pitch that allowed John Cavanaugh to touch home for a 3-0 advantage.
Each team added a run in the fourth, and the Panthers increased their lead to 6-1 in the fifth, but Furman put three on the board in the sixth and HPU answered with two in the bottom of the inning. Then the Paladins (20-27) rallied for a quartet of runs off starter Nick Zaio and reliever Ryan Lurate to tie the score at 8-8.
But the Panthers exploded for four of their own in the bottom of the frame. Chris Vinar singled home pinch-runner Hank Suhr, Ryan Thiede brought home two more runs with an RBI single, and Vinar scored on a wild pitch by Furman's Rob Purvis to complete the scoring.
Rusty Bodenheimer threw two innings of scoreless relief to earn his third save.
The Paladins next travel to Greensboro to play a key three-game Southern Conference series. The first game against UNC Greensboro begins on Friday at 7:00 p.m.