ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Interstat) — Landen Johnson and Jake McCarter hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the eighth inning to erase a one-run deficit and propel High Point to an 8-5 victory over UNC Asheville on Saturday at Greenwood Baseball Field.

The Panthers improved to 36-18 overall and won the weekend series after dropping the opener 11-0 on Friday and winning 11-10 in 10 innings on Thursday. The Bulldogs fell to 21-34.

High Point jumped ahead early, scoring four runs in the first inning. Frank Kelly led off with a home run to left field. After a double by Cole Hammond and a groundout, Jake McCarter walked. Cade Kohler doubled down the left-field line to score Hammond, and Marcus Martin followed with a two-run double that brought home Kohler and McCarter. The Panthers held a 4-0 lead after the opening frame.

UNC Asheville chipped away beginning in the fourth inning. T. Parks singled and later scored on a bases-loaded walk by Patrick Gillen. O. Michelson scored on a hit-by-pitch to C. McGinnis, cutting the lead to two runs. In the fifth, Parks doubled and scored on a single by Michelson, making it 4-3.

The Bulldogs took their first lead in the seventh. With one out, L. Lowe singled and Michelson was hit by a pitch. After a walk to B. Green loaded the bases, Gillen singled through the left side to drive in Lowe and Michelson, putting UNC Asheville ahead 5-4.

High Point answered immediately in the eighth. Johnson led off with a home run to right-center field to tie the game. McCarter followed with a solo homer to left-center to restore the Panthers’ lead at 6-5. The Panthers added two more runs in the ninth. Pinch hitter Brody Fleming walked and later scored on a single by pinch hitter Adam Ponce. Johnson doubled and scored on a single by McCarter to make it 8-5.

Marcus Martin went 2-for-3 with two RBIs for High Point. Kelly finished 1-for-4 with a home run. Cade Kohler doubled and drove in a run. Johnson was 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and one RBI. McCarter was 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.

For UNC Asheville, Gillen led the offense with two hits in three at-bats, including a double and three RBIs. Michelson had two hits and two runs scored. Parks doubled and scored twice.

High Point used seven pitchers. Charlie Jones tossed a scoreless sixth inning with two strikeouts. Mark Salicco, Aidan Paul, Jack Carey and Caleb Shafer each threw a scoreless inning. Luke Story closed the ninth with two strikeouts. Garrett Crum pitched 4 2/3 innings in relief for the Bulldogs, allowing three hits and two earned runs while striking out four.

The game marked the third consecutive contest between the two Big South rivals decided by three runs or fewer.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of High Point 7, UNC Asheville 3. Interstat’s ELO system gave the Panthers a 76.80 percent probability to win.