High Point, N.C. – Four home runs and another pitching gem by Riley Huge propelled Winthrop to a 6-5 come-from-behind road victory over High Point the first game of a three-game series with the Panthers. With the victory, Winthrop moves to 17-26-1 overall and 6-12 in Big South play.
 
KEY CONTRIBUTORS (GAME 1)

• Alan Benhardt (1-4, R, RBI, HR)
• Harrison Wilson (1-4, R, RBI, HR)
• Nicholas Badillo (1-3, 2R, 2 RBI, HR)
• Abe Affholter (1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR)
• Riley Huge (W, 6-5, 6.0 IP, 120 pitches, 9 K

W: Riley Huge (5-5)
 
L: Gus Hughes (5-5)
 
S: Parker Kruglewicz (6)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Wilson homered to center field with two outs in the top of the first, putting Winthrop on top early 1-0.
• The Panthers tied the score in their half of the inning on Adam Stuart's RBI single to center field with two outs.
• High Point scored three runs in the second to take a 4-1 lead.
• Then with one out in the top of the fifth, Affholter hit a two-run shot to left field to make it a one-run game.
• In the next inning, Badillo hit a two-run home run to left field and put Winthrop back in the lead 5-4 with two outs.
• Winthrop added on to their lead in the top of the seventh on Benhardt's homer to left field with two outs. This was the fourth homer of the contest for the Eagles.
• High Point looked to cut into the Winthrop lead with two outs in their half of the seventh as Peyton Carr got to third on a wild pitch but Jones got Stuart to groundout to end the inning.
• Eric Grintz homered to left center field for the Panthers in the bottom of the eighth to cut the lead to 6-5.
• Coming on in the eighth inning, Kruglewicz proceeded to record the final five outs to secure his sixth save on the season.

ON DECK
Game two of the series will take place tomorrow at 4 p.m. on ESPN+.