HIGH POINT, N.C. (Interstat) — Jaxon Lloyd tossed 6.2 shutout innings with six strikeouts and Jon Howard drove in four runs, including a three-run homer in the eighth inning, to lead Longwood past High Point 6-5 on Friday at George S. Erath Field at Coy O. Williard Baseball Stadium.

The Lancers (27-18, Big South) took a 6-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth before the Panthers (29-16) rallied. Jake McCarter hit a three-run homer, scoring two runs that cut the deficit to one. Wade Walton allowed two hits while striking out four over five innings for High Point.

Longwood scored three runs in the sixth on RBI singles by Mac Tufts and Jae’dan Carter plus a sacrifice fly by Howard. Howard’s eighth-inning blast extended the lead. High Point’s Landen Johnson had an RBI single in the first.

JR Fordham earned the win in relief, allowing three runs over 2.1 innings. Dylan Story took the loss for High Point. The teams meet again Saturday in the second game of the series.