Box Score
HIGH POINT, NC – Adam Gliebe hit a career-high two home runs on Saturday evening as the Winthrop Eagles defeated the High Point Panthers 7-5 at Williard Stadium in Big South Conference action.
The Eagles even their overall record at 13-13 and 5-3 in the conference, while the Panthers fall to 15-14 on the season and 3-5 in conference play.
Matteo D'Angelo (3-4) earned the victory in relief pitching 2.1 innings of scoreless baseball on one hit, one walk and one strikeout. Corey Swickle (2-3) took the loss throwing 1.0 inning and allowed three runs on two hits, one walk and one strikeout. Tommy Lawrence (4) picked up the save tossing 1.1 inning and surrendered one run on two hits, one walk and two strikeouts.
“This was a great game tonight,” said head coach Tom Riginos. “The guys showed a lot of heart and that's one thing I am real proud of.”
High Point took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on a leadoff solo home run against Winthrop starter Rober Lake that just made it over the left field fence by Murray White IV. The long ball was his second of the 2011 season.
The Eagles came back in the top of the fourth on Gliebe's first homer of the game, a three-run shot that hit off the top of the left field fence, with two outs against Panther starter Jared Avidon. Patrick Gamblin and Brett Thomas both started the inning by grounding out, but then TJ Olesczuk and Matt Lobacz posted back-to-back infield singles prior to the long ball by Gliebe.
High Point responded to take a 4-3 lead with three runs of its own in the bottom of the fourth. The Panthers recorded three consecutive singles to begin the inning. The third single, a bunt from Ryan Retz, brought in Kyle Mahoney for the first run of the inning. White IV followed with an RBI groundout plating Robbie Gillies, and Retz later scored on an RBI single by Mike Mercurio.
The score would remain 4-3 heading into the top of the eighth inning when Gliebe delivered another three-run homer to left field and gave Winthrop the 6-4 lead. The inning started when Max Vogel drew a leadoff walk and TJ Olesczuk was hit by a pitch.
The two home runs by Gliebe was the Eagles first multiple-homer game of the season, and the first for a player since Chas Crane hit two against VMI on May 27, 2010 in the Big South Tournament.
Winthrop added another insurance run in the top of the ninth on Vogel's RBI sacrifice fly to right field, which brought in Eddie Rohan from third base.
High Point attempted a comeback in the bottom-half of the ninth inning against Lawrence. The Panthers were able to load the bases with one out, but managed to only score one run on an RBI fielder's choice by Mohaney. After the fielder's choice by Mahoney, Lawrence got Gilles to strikeout looking for the final out of the game.
Along with Gliebe setting a career-best night for home runs in a game, the Eagles also set a school record for most hit by pitches in a contest with six. The previous record had been five which was set on Apr. 19, 2008 at Charleston Southern. Rohan was hit by a pitch three times, while Olesczuk, Tyler Cook and Cam Walters were each hit by a pitch once.
Olesczuk went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate for Winthrop, while Gliebe posted three hits and Lobacz with two. Retz, Steve Antolik and Scott Glover each had three hits for High Point, and White IV drove in a team-best two RBI.
The Eagles and Panthers will wrap up their three-game series on Sunday, Apr. 3 at 1 p.m.
