A six-run fourth inning lifted the ETSU baseball team to a record ninth straight win as the Bucs completed the sweep of High Point, defeating the Panthers 16-10 Sunday afternoon at Cardinal Park.
The nine straight wins are the most ever by ETSU in Division I play.
The Bucs improve to 23-19 overall with the win, while High Point drops to 17-23 on the season.
Senior Ben Andrews went 1.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts as he picked up his third win of the year.
High Point’s Corey Swickle was tabbed with the loss after giving up six runs (three earned) on four hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
Right fielder Cory Betterson and first baseman Paul Hoilman led the way offensively for the Bucs as Betterson was 3-for-5 with a double and three runs, while Hoilman was 4-for-5 with a double, scored four runs and recorded two RBIs.
The Panthers jumped out to an early 6-0 lead in the top of the first as they scored six runs on five hits, highlighted by two-run doubles by catcher Kyle Mahoney and left fielder Pablo Rosario.
ETSU answered with four runs in the bottom of the first as Hoilman singled through the left side to score center fielder Jacob Fabry.
Designated hitter Derek Trent would then launch a three-run shot over the fence in left to cut the High Point lead to 6-4.
The Bucs added five more runs in the bottom of the second on four hits – including a two-run single by Betterson – to take a 9-6 lead.
High Point tied the game at nine in the top of the second by scoring three runs on an RBI double by Drew Geissinger and RBI ground outs by Eric Marion and Alfie Wheeler.
In the inning, Bill Manion broke the High Point school career hit record as he doubled to right center for his 256th career hit.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Bucs tallied six more runs on five hits, which included a two-run single by second baseman Chris Rankhorn and a two-run double by left fielder Tory Mendez to take a 15-9 lead.
The hit extended Mendez’s hit streak to a team-high 17 games.
Rosario homered in the top of the fifth for the Panthers to cut the ETSU lead to 15-10.
Hoilman came in to score on an error by Rosario in the bottom of the seventh to increase the Buccaneer lead to 16-10.
Relievers Drew Story and Darren Caldwell combined to throw five scoreless innings of relief as the two only surrendered four hits with no walks.
The Bucs are back in Johnson City on Friday at 7 p.m. as they take on conference opponent Florida Gulf Coast in a three-game series at Cardinal Park. It will be the first Atlantic Sun game for the Bucs since their April 18 series against USCU.

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