App State baseball hosted High Point University in a battle in the High Country on a chilly Tuesday, but the Panthers emerged with a 3-2 victory over the Mountaineers, courtesy of a 3-run second inning and strong pitching. The App State offense struggled against the Panthers’ bullpen, collecting only 3 hits and 10 strikeouts in the 1-run loss.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Conner Barozzino tossed a scoreless top of the first inning in his first career start, and the Mountaineers loaded the bases with no outs in the home half of the inning. Sophomore utility player Riley Luft hit a sacrifice fly, which allowed senior outfielder Tank Yaghoubi to score the game’s first run.
After Luft’s sacrifice fly, App State had two runners on base with 1 out but was unable to add to its lead.
High Point opened the top of the second inning with runners on first and third base with no outs and evened the score at 1 with an RBI groundout. The Panthers took the lead with a base hit up the middle, spelling the end of Barozzino’s time on the mound.
Senior left-handed pitcher Reyn Watson took over pitching duties but gave up a stolen base and a single to center field, giving High Point a 3-1 lead.
The Mountaineers threatened in the bottom of the third inning when they got runners on first and second base with 1 out. However, the Panthers turned a double play, ending the threat and preserving their lead.
App State would not have another baserunner until the eighth inning, as the Panthers used 5 pitchers to keep the Mountaineers guessing at the plate. Right-handed pitcher Mateo Wells shone on the mound in particular, notching 6 strikeouts in 3 shutout innings of relief.
Not to be outdone, the Black and Gold employed 6 arms in a bullpen game of their own. After the 3-run second inning, they blanked High Point for the last 7 innings of the game.
The Mountaineers’ offense found life in the bottom of the eighth inning when graduate student infielder Joseph Zamora reached on an error. Yaghoubi bunted Zamora over to second base, then senior outfielder Charlie Evans smacked a base hit through the right side of the infield, scoring Zamora and cutting the Panthers’ lead in half.
App State couldn’t find a way to get the tying run across in the eighth, and the Mountaineers struck out twice and grounded out in the bottom of the ninth to seal their 11th loss of the season, 6 of which have been by a single run.
The Mountaineers have a tough test this weekend, as they face No. 11 Southern Mississippi University in a 3-game series in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Game 1 of the series is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, and all 3 games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
