HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point won its eighth straight game, using solid pitching and an unrelenting offensive attack to defeat the Atlantic League North Division first half champion, Southern Maryland 6-3 in front of 2,153 fans at Truist Point on Friday night.

Johnny Field, Giovanny Alfonzo and Zander Wiel each knocked in two runs for the Rockers. High Point starter Austin Glorius went five innings, allowed four hits and struck out three in improving to 3-4 on the season.

“We’re just playing good baseball right now,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe.  “Our defense has been carrying us. When your pitchers trust their defense, it makes baseball fun.”

The Rockers had 10 hits to Southern Maryland’s nine but the Rockers were strategic in their placement.  Southern Maryland’s Alex Crosby doubled in the top of the second and scored on an RBI double by Joe DeLuca to give the Blue Crabs an initial 1-0 advantage. Wiel  launched the first blast of the night, hitting his 16^th homer of the year in the bottom of the second to tie the game at 1-1.  That was followed by a two-out infield single from Tyler Ladendorf, a walk to Dakota Mulcay and an RBI single by Alfonzo.

The Rockers went up 4-1 in the fourth on a single by Ladendorf, a wallk to Alfonzo and a two-run double by Field. The lead grew to 5-1 in the seventh when Ben Aklinski walked and scored from first on a double by Wiel.

Kyle Mott threw a pair of shutout innings for the Rockers in the sixth and seventh before Bryce Hensley came on to start the eighth. The Blue Crabs greeted him with three consecutive singles, the third of which scored Jack Sundberg. David Harris grounded into a 4-3 double play to plate Michael Wielansky.

The Rockers added an insurance run in the eighth on a single by Quincy Latimore, a sac bunt by Mulcay and another RBI single from Alfonzo.

Ryan Dull earned his fourth save of the year with a shutout inning in the ninth.

Southern Maryland starter Mitch Lambson (L, 5-3) went seven innings and struck out six while allowing five hits and five runs.

“One through nine, we’re swinging the bats really well right now,” said Keefe. “I couldn’t be more proud of this team.”

The Rockers are now 38-25 on the season while the Blue Crabs fell to 45-18.

The Rockers will send lefty Jonah Scolaro to the mound on Saturday to face Southern Maryland’s Eddie Butler. Game time is 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point as the Rockers celebrate Military Appreciation Day with a special pre-game ceremony.

Saturday is Military Appreciation Day at the High Point Rockers game at Truist Point.

Rockers’ pitcher Chasen Bradford his family’s commitment to the military in this article from The Atlantic.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The High Point Rockers hit three home runs and starting pitcher Craig Stem threw seven shutout innings as the Rockers won their seventh straight game with a 12-0 win over Charleston on Thursday night at Appalachian Power Park.

The seven-game winning streak is the second-longest this year for the Rockers as they won 10 straight between May 18 and June 2. The Rockers are now 37-27 on the season.

Stem and a pair of relievers held Charleston to just four hits on the night and only two Charleston base runners were able to get to second base over the first seven innings.

The Rockers pounded out 10 hits and received home runs from Zander Wiel, Logan Morrison and Tyler Ladendorf.

The Rockers staked Stem to three runs before he even took the mound for his first pitch. In the top of the first, Ben Aklinski drew a one-out walk and Jerry Downs was hit by a pitch by Dirty Bird starter Jordan Stephens. Wiel then unloaded his 15^th home run of the year to give the Rockers a 3-0 lead.

With two outs in the third inning, Wiel walked and scored on Morrison’s seventh homer of the year for a 5-0 High Point advantage.

Downs walked to start the fifth inning and moved to third on a single by Wiel. Morrison’s sacrifice fly scored Downs to give the Rockers a 6-0 lead.  The Rockers doubled their lead to 12-0 with a six-run seventh inning.  Reliever Michael Gunn hit Aklinski with a pitch and was followed by a Downs RBI double. Later in the inning, Ladendorf would hit a three-run homer, his sixth of the year. After walks to Mike Gulino and Johnny Field, Aklinski ripped an RBI single to center to score Gulino.

Stem threw seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits and no walks while striking out four. William Kirwan, recently acquired by the Rockers after being released by Kentucky, came on in the eighth inning and allowed one hit and one walk. Joe Johnson threw a three-up, three-down ninth inning with a strikeout to close out the Dirty Birds.

The Rockers return home for a three-game Independence Day weekend series with North Division champion Southern Maryland. Game time for Friday’s series opener is set for 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The High Point Rockers used three pitchers to hold Charleston to just four hits in a 6-1 victory on Wednesday night at Appalachian Power Park. It was the sixth straight win for the Rockers who improved to 36-25 on the season.

High Point starter Ivan Pineyro (W, 2-0) went six innings, yielded just three hits and one run while recording eight strikeouts. John Hayes went 2.1 innings and gave up one hit while Kyle Mott recorded the final two outs of the game.

Michael Martinez and Giovanny Alfonzo led the offensive with three hits and an RBI apiece. Zander Wiel drove in a pair of runs with his 14^th homer of the season.

The Dirty Birds took an early 1-0 lead off Pineyro when Nick Heath hit his first homer of the year to right field. But little did Charleston know, that would be their only run of the night.

Charleston lefty Derrick Adams didn’t allow a run through the first two innings, but the Rockers tied the game in the third when Alfonzo and Jay Gonzalez started the frame with singles. Ben Aklinski grounded to shortstop Connor Justus who flipped to Diego Goris at second to force Gonzalez but Goris’ throw to first was wide of the bag allowing Alfonso to score.

The Rockers then took the lead with a three-run fifth inning. Jerry Downs led off with a single before Zander Wiel blasted a two-run homer, putting High Point ahead 3-1. Logan Morrison was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a single by Martinez. Alfonzo then singled up the middle to score Morrison for a 4-1 Rockers’ advantage.

In the sixth, Charleston reliever Francisco Carrillo issued walks to Aklinski and Downs then Morrison stroked a double to right to bring home Aklinski. Downs then scored on a Martinez single to put the Rockers ahead 6-1.

High Point and Charleston will conclude their three-game series on Thursday night with a 6:35 p.m. start at Appalachian Power Park.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The High Point Rockers scored five times in the first two innings and rookie starter Nick Evangelista pitched five solid innings as the Rockers won their fifth straight game on Tuesday with a 7-4 win over Charleston at Appalachian Power Park.

The win moves the Rockers to 35-25 on the season with six games remaining. Gastonia, at 41-18, has clinched the South Division playoff spot. The Rockers can secure a tie for first by winning their final six games and having Gastonia lose its final seven, but Gastonia owns the head-to-head tiebreaker and will advance to the playoffs as the first half South champion.

Evangelista (W, 1-1), the rookie who was pitching for Fairleigh Dickinson University just a few short weeks ago, received plenty of support in his second professional start. With one out in the top of the first, Ben Aklinski singled and scored on a home run by Jerry Downs, his ninth of the season. After Zander Wiel grounded out, Logan Morrison added his sixth homer of the year to put High Point up 3-0.

Evangelista yielded a pair of singles in the first but escaped unharmed thanks to a 6-4-3 double play.  In the top of the second, Giovanny Alfonzo drew a one out walk before Aklinski hit his 11^th homer of the year to put High Point up 5-0.

Charleston got on the board with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Evangelista issued a pair of walks and a fielder’s choice to load the bases with one out. Yovan Gonzalez was hit by a pitch to force home one run before Corey Bird drove in two more with a single.

High Point extended its lead to 6-3 when Downs doubled in the seventh to score Alfonzo who had walked. It was a 7-3 Rocker lead after Zander Wiel reached on an error in the eighth and eventually scored on a Tyler Ladendorf ground out. The Dirty Birds matched that run in the bottom of the eighth off reliever Bryce Hensley when Diego Goris and scored on a Rocker infield error.

Evangelista earned his first professional win with 5.2 innings of work, allowing seven hits and three runs while walking two and striking out four. Ryan Dull allowed a pair of hits in the ninth but threw a shutout inning to earn his third save of the season.

The Rockers and Dirty Birds will meet again on Wednesday at 6:35 at Appalachian Power Park in the second game of the three-game series.

HIGH POINT, N.C. –The High Point Rockers announced a full slate of promotions and activities for the upcoming holiday weekend highlighted by a July 3^rd Fireworks Spectacular at Truist Point.  The Rockers will be at home against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Game times on Friday and Saturday are set for 6:35 p.m. while Sunday’s contest will start at 6:05 p.m.

FRIDAY, JULY 1 – FIREWORKS FRIDAY

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs – 6:35 p.m./Gates open at 6:00 p.m.

Kickoff the holiday weekend with spectacular fireworks after the game at Truist Point.  Like every Friday, fans can watch the festivities from the field.

SATURDAY, JULY 2 – MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs – 6:35 p.m./Gates open at 5:45 p.m.

Current and former service members will receive 50% off their ENTIRE ticket order with a valid military ID.  Bring the family and enjoy a great ticket deal sponsored by Rixster’s Grill!  Fans can also enjoy a pre-game performance by the U.S. Army 20^th band.

The Rockers will be wearing a limited-edition military-style jersey that will be auctioned off to benefit Triad Honor Flight

SUNDAY, JULY 3 – INDEPENDENCE DAY FIREWORKS

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs – 6:05 p.m./Gates open at 5:00 p.m.

Start celebrating July 4^th early with fireworks on July 3^rd and watch it from the field after the Rockers game, sponsored by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist!  Also, fans will receive a pair of 3D glasses to make the fireworks even more spectacular!   A special advance ticket “Family Deal” is available for July 3^rd with four tickets for only $28.

Tickets for any High Point Rockers game can be purchased online at HighPointRockers.com or by calling the Rockers at (336) 888-1000. The Rockers’ Box Office at 301 Gatewood Avenue in High Point is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.