HIGH POINT, N.C. (Interstat) — The High Point Panthers rallied from a four-run deficit in the eighth inning, then won on a sacrifice fly in the 10th to beat Winthrop 8-9 on Friday afternoon at George S. Erath Field at Coy O. Williard Baseball Stadium.

The game, which began in the afternoon and stretched into the evening, featured 23 combined hits, three lead changes and a walk-off finish that gave High Point a 32-17 overall record. Winthrop fell to 30-19.

Winthrop jumped ahead early, scoring three runs in the second inning on a hit-by-pitch and a two-run single by Hernandez. The Eagles added three more in the fifth on a double by Wouters and a two-run error, taking a 6-0 lead. Grossington’s solo home run in the seventh pushed the lead to 7-0, and the Eagles led 7-4 after six innings.

High Point chipped away, scoring one in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Ponce, then two in the sixth on a home run by Johnson and a two-run double by Ruiz. But the Panthers took control in the eighth. Hammond singled, Ruiz doubled, and Ponce’s bunt single scored Hammond. Ponce later stole second and scored on a throwing error, and OH singled to plate Ponce, giving High Point a 7-8 lead.

Winthrop tied the game in the ninth when pinch-runner WilsonE scored on a sacrifice fly by Kohler. Martin, who entered as a pinch-runner for Johnson, scored the tying run.

In the 10th, Kelly was hit by a pitch, stole second, and advanced to third on a balk. After OH was intentionally walked, Allen lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Kelly to end the game.

Key performances included Ruiz, who finished with two doubles and four RBIs. Hammond had three hits and scored twice. McCarter singled and stole a base. Kohler drove in the tying run in the ninth. For Winthrop, Wouters doubled twice and drove in two runs. Grossington homered and scored twice.

Wilson took the loss for Winthrop, allowing three runs in two-plus innings after entering in the seventh. Gilley started and allowed four runs over six innings. Chalfant allowed one run in two innings for High Point, and Kimel allowed two runs in one inning.

High Point had 13 hits to Winthrop’s 10. The win was the Panthers’ second in a row, following a 2-1 victory at UNC Wilmington on Tuesday. Winthrop had won its previous two games against UNC Asheville.

The teams meet again Saturday and Sunday to complete the three-game Big South series. Winthrop then travels to South Carolina on Tuesday, while High Point visits UNC Asheville the following weekend.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of High Point 6, Winthrop 5, and the ELO system gave High Point a 63.90 percent probability to win.