NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (Interstat) — Garrison Barile delivered a pinch-hit, game-tying single in the seventh inning and Nathan Martinez drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth, lifting Charleston Southern to a 4-3 comeback victory over High Point in a Big South Conference baseball game Sunday at Buccaneer Ballpark.

The Buccaneers salvaged the final game of the series after being outscored 28-14 in the first two contests. High Point fell to 26-13 overall and 8-4 in conference play, while Charleston Southern improved to 22-16 and 6-6.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the late innings, erasing High Point’s early lead. Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Charleston Southern’s Sam Collins singled with one out, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Panthers catcher Justin Ruiz. Barile, pinch-hitting for Chandler Wolfley, then lined a single through the right side to score Collins and tie the game.

An inning later, Alex Marot led off with a double and was replaced by pinch-runner Brady Rogers. After a strikeout, Martinez lifted a fly ball to right field, deep enough to score Rogers and give the Buccaneers their first lead at 4-3. Reliever Drew Dawson sealed the win with two scoreless innings, stranding the tying run at third in the ninth.

High Point built its lead with two unearned runs in the second inning. An error by Buccaneers second baseman Ethan Reader extended the frame, allowing Cooper Hammond and Ruiz to follow with run-scoring singles. Ruiz added a second RBI on a sacrifice bunt in the seventh, scoring Troy McCarter to make it 3-2.

Charleston Southern’s offense was initially stifled by High Point starter Aidan Paul, who did not allow a hit through 4 2/3 innings but was charged with two runs. The Buccaneers broke through in the fourth when designated hitter Gavin Speirs launched a two-run homer to right field, scoring Marot.

The win was anchored by strong pitching from Charleston Southern starter Matt Gallant, the top star for the Buccaneers. Gallant worked five scoreless innings, scattering six hits while striking out none. He effectively managed traffic, stranding multiple Panthers runners to keep his team close. His performance followed a dominant outing on April 12 against South Carolina Upstate where he threw six no-hit innings.

High Point reliever Noah Zimmerman was exceptional in relief of Paul, tossing 3 1/3 hitless innings and striking out five. However, he was charged with the unearned, game-tying run in the seventh and the decisive run in the eighth.

The Panthers out-hit the Buccaneers 11-9 but grounded into three double plays and had two runners caught stealing, repeatedly squandering opportunities. Charleston Southern’s bullpen, after Gallant’s exit, allowed just one run over the final four innings. Hayden Henry earned the win despite allowing a run in two innings, and Dawson collected the save.

The result defied the pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 7-4 High Point victory and gave the Panthers a 62.9% probability of winning.

High Point next travels to face North Carolina on Tuesday. Charleston Southern visits in-state rival College of Charleston, also on Tuesday.