HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Saint Joseph's baseball team rallied in the middle innings, but High Point ultimately pulled away en route to a 15-7 win at Williard Stadium in Friday's season opener for both teams.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• High Point (1-0) took the early lead with a three-spot in the first before extending the lead to 7-0 with four runs in the third.
 
• Saint Joseph's (0-1) began to claw back into the game in the top of the fifth.  Blake Primrose led off the frame with a single and made his way to third base on a passed ball and a groundout.  A single by Eric Cross brought him home to get the Hawks on the board.
 
• The Hawks hung six on the board with two outs in the sixth to draw level.  With Joey Gale on third, Joey Pagano hit the Hawks' first home run of the year to cut the deficit to four.  Primrose followed with a walk before Jason Janesko beat out an infield single; Richard Beggy followed with an RBI single to make it a 7-4 game.
 
• Cross then walked to load the bases for Alex Venezia, who ripped a bases-clearing double to tie the game at 7-7.
 
• Unfortunately for the Crimson and Gray, the Panthers responded with three unearned runs in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead; High Point would then add five more in the seventh to set the final margin.
 
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Tyler Shafer tossed three and a third innings of one-run ball to earn the win for High Point, while Jackson Campbell was charged with five runs – four of them unearned – in one inning to take the loss.
 
• Neither starter figured in the decision; Duke McCarron allowed seven runs in two and a third innings for the Hawks, while Wade Walton allowed six runs, all unearned, in five and a third innings for the Panthers.
 
• Christian Coppola turned in a strong relief appearance, striking out seven in three and two-thirds innings.
 
• Pagano turned in a multi-hit day for the Hawks, while Primrose scored twice; Pagano also drove in a pair while Venezia brought home three.
 
• Beggy, Janesko, and Venezia recorded their first hits in a Hawk uniform; Venezia, Peter Bashore, and Augie Maslo all made their collegiate debuts on Friday as well.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks and Panthers will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon.