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The High Point University baseball team scored one run in the ninth but stranded two runners and could not complete the rally, falling to No. 30 VMI 5-4 Friday night at Williard Stadium in the Big South Conference opener. Spencer Andrews gave up a two-run homer in the top of the ninth and got the loss while VMI starter Adam Lopez pitched 8-1/3 innings, improving to 3-0 on the season.

“Tonight's game really had the same intensity and focus as Wednesday's win over East Carolina,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “It was a great baseball atmosphere tonight. The difference was VMI's starter Adam Lopez. He kept us in check offensively and put his team in a position to win. That is baseball sometimes. They got the big hit tonight but we are still in position to win the series.”

With the game tied 3-3 going in to the ninth inning sophomore Al Yevoli took the mound for HPU and got the first two outs of the inning before he was relieved by Andrews. Andrews gave up a single to Tanner Biagini bringing left fielder Graham Sullivan to the plate. Sullivan took the 1-2 offering form Andrews over the left field wall for his fourth home run of the season, giving VMI a 5-3 lead.

High Point was able to get one run on the board in the bottom of the inning but couldn't tie the game. Steve Antolik was hit by the first pitch he saw from Lopez. The base runner brought a VMI pitching change as Jeremy Brown came in and got pinch hitter Sal Pezzino to strike out. Another pinch hitter, Robbie Gilles, singled through the right side to put runners on the corners for freshman Andrew Bartlett. Bartlett picked up an RBI with a single through the left side, scoring Antolik. With two runners on and two outs 3Murray White IV# took the 0-2 pitch from Michael Devine to deep right center field but it was picked up by Rob Dickinson for the third out of the game.

“Both teams came out ready to fight,” Antolik said. “We have really been looking forward to this series and our pitching kept us in the game. But as an offensive team we need to put up more runs to win the game.”

Andrews fell to 0-1 on the season while Lopez improved to 3-0. Devine picked up his second save of the year.

Sam Roberts led off the game with a single up the middle for the Keydets but Jamie Serber picked him off at first base for the first out of the game. VMI took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a double by Graham Sullivan, scoring Cory Spangenberg but Sullivan was thrown out at home by Matt Gantner on the next hit, ending the inning with only one run scored.

High Point put up a run in the second inning on an RBI single by Max Fulginiti, scoring Gantner who had doubled to lead off the inning.

Serber lasted three innings before he was relieved by Jaime Schultz. Schultz had his best outing of the year pitching five innings, allowing one hit with seven strikeouts.

“It was just a matter of getting my second pitch over for a strike,” Schultz said. “My fastball has been fine but I needed to make by secondary pitch a strike too and that's what coach Cozart and coach Latham have helped me figure out. It was a tough loss but we can come back and take the next two.”

High Point (12-5) and VMI (17-1) face off again on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Williard Stadium. Brian Jones will take the mound for HPU and Jason Farley will start for the Keydets.