FARMVILLE, Va. – An eight-run rally in the top of the eighth inning was the difference as High Point took the rubber match of the weekend set from the Lancers, 10-2, Sunday at Buddy Bolding Stadium.
 
Longwood (6-12, 1-2 Big South) entered the eighth inning with the game tied at two, but the preseason pick to finish third in the Big South, High Point (9-8, 2-1 Big South) came up with a big inning to take the game and the series from the Lancers.
 
"With the exception of that eighth inning I thought we played really good baseball," Longwood head coach Ryan Mau said. "I thought it was a great baseball game today. It just got away from us with some free passes and timely hitting in the eighth, but we were in it against a good High Point team. The score may not show it today, but it was a competitive series. It was definitely a positive to build upon and we have to find a way to win our next series."
 
In the loss Justin Mitchell continued to swing a hot bat, picking up his second multi-hit game in as many days and extending his hitting streak to nine games, tied with Sammy Miller for the longest by a Lancer this season.
 
Mitchell was 2-for-4 with one double and a run scored Sunday, placing him atop the lead in batting average. The senior first baseman went 5-for-10 with two doubles, two RBI, and two runs scored in the weekend set, capping off a week in which he hit .429 (6-for-14) with five RBI.
 
Jonny Vizcaino (3-0) picked up the win for High Point with 5.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Eric Harp (1-3) took the loss for Longwood, allowing two runs in 2.1 innings of work. Harp pitched to the first two batters of the eighth before being replaced.
 
Though he received no decision, Tyler Morgan pitched well in a spot start. Morgan held High Point to two runs across 4.2 innings of four-hit ball with one walk issued and five strikeouts, tying his career high.
 
"I thought he started shaky and did an outstanding job settling in with those two big punchouts in the first inning," Mau said. "He found his rhythm from there and gave us a great opportunity to win the ballgame."
 
The Lancers got the scoring started in the fourth inning thanks to well-executed small ball. With one out Mitchell doubled to left-center field, extending his hitting streak to his season-best nine games. The next batter, Joey Mendez, singled through the left side, placing a pair of runners on the corners with one out. Grant Keller put down a bunt to the right of the mound that was mishandled by the pitcher, allowing Mitchell to score from third.
 
"Mitchell got our offense started with that double followed by Mendez and the middle of the lineup continues to swing the bat well," Mau said. "We did a nice job executing that safety squeeze."
 
The Lancers continued to put the pressure on in the frame. Jack Schnell walked to load the bases with one out for the Lancers and Jawan McAllister dropped a single into right field to up Longwood's lead to 2-0.
 
"McAllister produced with his big hit and I thought the swings were really good today," Mau said. "I thought we took some really good swings to the baseball. Unfortunately we didn't have much to show for it in the runs column."
 
After Longwood took the lead High Point got the runs back in the top of the fifth inning. J.J. Woodard started the inning with a single into center field. With one out Austen Zente doubled down the left field line, moving Woodard to third base. Joe Johnson then flew out to center field, bringing in the runner from third. Zente, who moved up to third on the sacrifice fly, scored in the next at-bat on a wild pitch to tie the game at two.
 
High Point rallied to take its first lead in the eighth inning, batting around in the frame. The inning started with back-to-back walks by Joe Johnson and Daniel Millwee. After Carson Jackson singled to load the bases with no outs, a bases-loaded walk by Hunter Lee gave High Point the lead. Blake Schunk followed suit with a single to up the lead to 4-2. Jordan Sergent followed with a two-run single to give High Point a four-run advantage and the Panthers continued to widen the margin from there. In the frame the Panthers scored eight runs on five hits.
 
Longwood returns to the field Tuesday for a midweek game against Norfolk State. First pitch Tuesday is slated for 5 p.m. at Buddy Bolding Stadium.

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