BOX SCORE

HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point broke a 12-12 tie on Steve Antolik's sixth-inning solo homer in a game marked by big innings from both teams, beating Radford 13-12 on Saturday night.

After High Point (18-19, 5-9 Big South) had six in the first, Radford (16-17, 5-6) answered with nine in the top of the second inning.  The Panthers plated five in the bottom of the third, and Radford had three in the sixth before Antolik's blast broke the tie.

“We have to learn how to prevent big innings,” head coach Joe Raccuia said.  “There were some plays defensively that weren't made in the first that cost us a bunch of runs.  You can control the big inning by playing defense, and it seems the big innings have been happening to us a lot lately.  It's tough to recover, and I know we recovered tonight, but it ends up taxing your bullpen. 

“It's not a good equation for winning, I can tell you that.”

The Highlanders got a pair of bases-loaded doubles – one in the second from Andrew Cook and another in the sixth from Brett Mollenhauer – but the runs weren't enough, as four High Point relievers held Radford scoreless in the final three innings.

Both starters struggled and exited early.  High Point lefty Al Yevoli lasted an inning and a third, departing in the second after surrendering a 6-0 Panther lead by allowing eight runs on five hits.  Radford right-hander Eddie Butler lasted into the third, going 2 2/3 innings, but allowed 11 runs (eight earned) on 10 hits.

Pablo Rosario and Max Fulginiti each went 3-for-4, and four High Point players drove in two runs.

Alex Guerra and Mollenhauer had three hits each, and Mollenhauer finished 3-for-3 with four RBIs and two walks.

Drew Dades, who allowed two hits to the four Highlanders he faced, earned the win (1-0) for High Point.  Mikel Rodenberg pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up his sixth save of the season.

Derrick Brewer took the loss (0-2), allowing two runs on four hits in 2 2/3 innings.

High Point sent 11 men to the plate in the first, using five singles and a pair of Radford errors to push across six runs.  The Highlanders answered right back with their nine runs in the second, with High Point pitchers walking in a pair of runs before Cook's double to right center cleared the bases and gave Radford a 9-6 lead.

The Panthers had another big inning in the third, highlighted by Matt Gantner's two-run single with two outs that gave High Point an 11-9 lead.  

After a run in the fifth for High Point, Radford pushed across three more in the sixth on Mollenhauer's bases-loaded double with two outs that tied the game at 13-13.

The series concludes on Sunday at 1 p.m.