High Point Panthers (14-9) at Appalachian State Mountaineers (11-10)

Preview

BOONE, N.C. (Interstat) — Riding a three-game winning streak, the High Point Panthers visit the Appalachian State Mountaineers for a nonconference baseball matchup Tuesday at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. EDT under cloudy skies with temperatures near 50 degrees.

The Panthers (14-9) enter after sweeping a weekend series from Presbyterian, capped by a 9-3 victory Sunday. Reliever Noah Zimmerman was dominant in that win, pitching three perfect innings with three strikeouts. Zimmerman, a key player to watch, has not allowed a hit in his last 7 1/3 innings over two appearances, striking out nine.

High Point’s offense was led Sunday by right fielder Lane Allen, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Appalachian State (11-10) salvaged the final game of its series at Old Dominion with a 10-6 win Sunday. The Mountaineers’ bullpen shined, with Ethan Wilson, Tanner Nolan and Jordan Fisher combining for nine innings of relief, allowing just three earned runs. Wilson, another player to watch, tossed three hitless innings with three strikeouts in the victory. He has not allowed a hit in his last 5 2/3 innings.

The teams have followed similar recent paths, each losing two of three on the road in mid-March before securing weekend series wins.

Interstat’s game simulator projects an 8-4 victory for High Point, while its ELO rating system gives a slight edge to Appalachian State with a 50.40% probability to win.

Following this contest, High Point begins a three-game series at Gardner-Webb on Friday. Appalachian State opens Sun Belt Conference play with a road series at Southern Mississippi starting Friday.