PREVIEW: High Point hosts Winthrop in Big South rubber match

HIGH POINT, N.C. (Interstat) — High Point and Winthrop conclude their three-game Big South series Sunday afternoon at George S. Erath Field at Coy O. Williard Baseball Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. under cloudy skies with a temperature of 69 degrees.

The Panthers (33-17) have already clinched the series after winning the first two games. High Point defeated Winthrop 7-3 on Saturday and outlasted the Eagles 9-8 in 10 innings on Friday.

Winthrop (30-20) will try to avoid a sweep in the series finale. The Eagles’ offense has kept them close in both games, but High Point’s pitching has been the difference.

High Point’s Ty Brachbill earned the win Saturday, throwing a complete game with five strikeouts while allowing four hits and two earned runs. The senior right-hander improved to 8-2 on the season. Over his past four starts, Brachbill has allowed seven earned runs in 29 1/3 innings and struck out 29.

Winthrop’s Walker Brodt also started Saturday but took the loss despite allowing no hits over 5 1/3 innings. Brodt surrendered two earned runs and struck out two. The right-hander has struggled with command recently, allowing earned runs in seven of his past eight appearances.

Shortstop Chazz Grossington went 2-for-3 with an RBI for Winthrop on Saturday. Left fielder Jaylen Hernandez also had two hits. Catcher SeoJun Oh homered and drove in two runs for High Point, and left fielder Jake McCarter went 2-for-4.

The series has been tightly contested. High Point has won the past two meetings by a combined three runs. Winthrop’s last win in the series came April 26 against Gardner-Webb.

High Point will look to carry momentum into next week, when it travels to UNC Asheville for a three-game series starting Thursday. Winthrop faces South Carolina on Tuesday before hosting Longwood next weekend.

The Interstat game simulator projects a 6-4 High Point victory.