GASTONIA, N.C. – Gastonia ended High Point’s five-game winning streak with an 11-2 win on Tuesday night at CaroMont Health Park.

Tied 1-1 in the second inning, Gastonia scored five times including back to back home runs from Jack Reinheimer and Ethan Skender. The Peppers add another four runs in the seventh.

Taylor Guerrieri took the loss for the Rockers, falling to 0-1. He allowed six runs and eight hits over 3.1 innings. He walked two and struck out five. Ryan Hennen earned the win for Gastonia, throwing 2.2 innings of two-hit baseball in relief of starter Matt Hartman.

The Rockers were led by Luke Napleton who had three hits including a solo homer leading off the second inning. Drew Mendoza added three hits while Cody Wilson smacked a single and a double.

The Rockers will enjoy a brief two-day respite before playing their home opener at Truist Point on Friday night at 6:35 p.m. against the Lexington Legends. There will be a fireworks show following the game.

GASTONIA, N.C. – The High Point Rockers swept a doubleheader from the Gastonia Ghost Peppers on Monday at CaroMont Health Park, taking the opener 3-0 behind Matt Solter’s one-hitter, then claiming a 7-4 win in the nightcap.

The sweep puts the Rockers at 5-0 on the season, tying the club mark for the best start to a season. Following Tuesday’s series finale at Gastonia, the Rockers will prepare for their home opener on Friday, May 2 at Truist Point against the Lexington Legends.

In the opener, High Point’s Matt Solter (W, 1-0) came within a strike of throwing a no-hitter, settling for a one-hitter after allowing a two-out double in the bottom of the seventh. Solter’s one-hitter was the first complete game one-hitter in Rockers history.

Gastonia’s Patrick Mazeika doubled to right on a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the seventh to break up the no-hit bid. When the next batter, Narciso Crook, grounded out to Aidan Brewer at shortstop, Solter had secured a one-hitter.

“Matt commanded the zone really well today,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe. “He moved the ball in and out and just threw the ball fantastic.”

The Rockers scored all of their runs in the first inning when, with two outs, Ben Aklinski and Evan Edwards reached on singles before catcher Luke Napleton hit a three-run shot, his first homer as a Rocker. Kevin Smith (L, 0-1) took the loss despite holding High Point to four hits with six strikeouts.

In the nightcap, the Rockers built a 5-0 lead before the Ghost Peppers rallied late. Aidan Brewer hit a sac fly in the second to put High Point up 1-0. The lead grew to 3-0 when Aklinski hit a two-run homer. The homer marked Aklinski’s 74^th as a Rocker and tied him with Zander Wiel for the club career record.

The Rockers tacked on two more in the fourth on a two-run single by D.J. Burt in the fourth. Burt then reached in the seventh on a three-base fielding error that brought home Cody Wilson. Burt would score on a wild pitch to extend the Rockers lead to 7-2.

Gastonia’s Richie Martin hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to bring the Ghost Peppers within three at 7-4 but Akeel Morris was able to close out the High Point win.

High Point starter Erich Uelmen went four innings and struck out five while allowing just one hit. Matt Frisbee (W, 1-0) came on in the fifth and struck out four over his two innings of work to earn the win. Akeel Morris allowed a pair of runs in the seventh. The Rockers scored three runs off Gastonia starter Adam Scott (L, 0-1) who struck out two in his three innings of work.

NOTES: Solter is the first Rocker pitcher to throw a complete game shutout in club history . . . It also marked the first time in 107 meetings that High Point had shutout Gastonia . . . Ben Aklinski’s third inning homer in the nightcap was the 74^th of his career, tying him with Zander Wiel (2022-24) for the franchise record . . . 1B Evan Edwards has hit safely in all five games this season after finishing the 2024 season with a three-game hitting streak . . . He has hit four homers in the first five games of the season as has OF Luis Gonzalez . . . In Tuesday night’s series finale, the Rockers will send RHP Taylor Guerrieri to the mound to face Gastonia’s RHP Matt Hartman . . . High Point’s 5-0 start matches the best start in club history along with the 2024 club.

WALDORF, Md. – Evan Edwards (Southern Guilford HS/NC State) hit for the cycle and Luis Gonzalez blasted a pair of home runs as the High Point Rockers finished off a sweep of Southern Maryland with a 17-10 win on Sunday afternoon at Regency Furniture Stadium.

The Rockers now head south to play a doubleheader at the Gastonia Ghost Peppers on Monday starting at 12:30. After a Tuesday night game at Gastonia, the Rockers will play their home opener on Friday night at Truist Point.

High Point pounded out 16 hits including three doubles, a triple and four home runs on the day.

Edwards had a lead-off double in the second, a two-run single in the third, a three-run homer in the sixth and a run-scoring triple in the ninth. He added an RBI groundout in the eighth to drive in seven runs.

The Rockers hit four homers in the game as Luis Gonzalez blasted two more round-trippers including a solo shot leading off the fifth and a decisive three-run homer in the ninth.

After building a 12-4 lead behind brilliant pitching from starter Brandon Backman (W, 1-0) and a pair of scoreless innings from the bullpen, the Blue Crabs exploded for six runs in the eighth to make it a 12-10 game.

Southern Maryland broke the ice when Ethan Wilson hit a two-run homer in the first. The Rockers knotted the game at 2-2 in the second on an RBI single by Max Viera and a run-scoring double from Drew Mendoza. High Point went up 4-2 in the third on a two-run single by Evan Edwards but Wilson re-tied the game with his second two-run homer of the day in the bottom of the third.

From that point on, the Rockers dominated offensively, scoring four runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth. Gonzalez led off the fifth with a solo homer, his fourth of the season. Mendoza added a three-run homer in the fifth then Edwards blasted a three-run shot in the sixth.

Backman (W, 1-0) made his first start of the year and went five strong innings, allowing four runs while walking just one and striking out eight. Stevie Branche, signed on Saturday, pitched a 1-2-3 sixth with a pair of strikeouts. Zach Vennaro shut out the Crabs in the seventh but Southern Maryland came to life in the bottom of the eighth, tallying six times to pull to within two at 12-10. Alejandro De Aza had a two-run triple and Sam Dexter knocked a two-run homer to key the rally.

The Rockers called on Tommy Doyle who needed just nine pitches to put the Crabs down in order and preserve the win.

The Rockers are now 3-0 on the season for the second consecutive season.

After the three-game set at Gastonia, the Rockers host the Lexington Legends on Friday, May 2 at 6:35 pm at Truist Point in the home opener. Tickets are available including a special four tickets for just $24 at the Truist Point Box Office.

NOTES: Evan Edwards became just the second Rocker to hit for the cycle, joining Michael Russell who did it against Lexington on July 20, 2022 . . . Luis Gonzalez became just the second Rocker with multiple homers in back to back games, along with Richie Shaffer who did it in 2019 . . . The Rockers scored 37 runs in the three game series, tying the club record for runs in a series, previously set against Gastonia in 2021.

WALDORF, Md. – The High Point Rockers jumped off to an early 3-0 lead, fell behind, and rallied for a 6-4 win on Opening Night in the Atlantic League on Friday at Southern Maryland.

HIGHLIGHTS

Impressive pitching from the Rockers bullpen paved the way for the win along with timely offense. Lefty Jacob Edwards (1-0) earned the win with four innings of shutout baseball, allowing just one hit. Newcomer Tommy Doyle, a former Major League reliever with Colorado, pitched the final two innings, striking out five of the seven hitters he faced while pitching around a single. On the night, the Rockers’ staff allowed just four hits while striking out 10.

The Rockers sprinted to an early 3-0 lead. After Southern Maryland starter Shawn Semple struck out lead-off hitter Cody Wilson, Luis Gonzalez drew a walk. With two outs, Evan Edwards blasted a home run to right to stake the Rockers to a 2-0 lead. DH Max Viera then slapped his first professional base hit to left. He moved to third on a single by Drew Mendoza and scored on a single by D.J. Burt.

High Point starter Kyle Barraclough drew the Opening Night start and allowed only one hit while striking out three through the first two innings. But he ran into trouble in the third as he allowed the first five Blue Crabs to reach base on a single, two walks and two hit batters. Two more walks each forced in a run before Sam Dexter lifted a sac fly to give SMD a 4-3 lead.

High Point’s Ben Aklinski tied the game at 4-4 when he led off the fifth with a solo homer to left. Southern Maryland reliever Jalen Miller then walked Evan Edwards and hit Viera with a pitch to put two runners on. Drew Mendoza blooped a single to right to load the bases before catcher Isaiah Mirabal drew a walk to force in Evan Edwards and give the Rockers a 5-4 lead. Jacob Edwards entered in the fourth and went four strong innings, shutting down Southern Maryland.

The Blue Crabs brought in Rafi Vasquez in the eighth inning and Viera greeted him with a lead-off homer to left for his first professional homer and a 6-4 Rockers lead.

Doyle was nearly unhittable over the eighth and ninth innings, fanning five and earning the save in his Rockers debut.

NOTES:  For the first time in Rockers history, manager Jamie Keefe started two professional rookies on Opening Night . . . DH Max Viera and catcher Isaiah Mirabal each made their professional debut . . . Viera collected his first professional hit and his first career homer . . . The Rockers on Thursday signed reliever Tommy Doyle, an MLB veteran, who made his ALPB debut on Friday night.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers and the Gastonia Ghost Peppers played to a 3-3 tie on Saturday night at Truist Point.

The Rockers tallied a pair of runs in the first inning when Luis Gonzalez doubled and was followed by Ben Aklinski’s two-run homer. High Point added a run in the second on an Aidan Brewer single and Gonzalez’s RBI single.

Gastonia tallied a solo run in the third on a sac fly from Dalton Guthrie. The Peppers added a pair of runs in the third on an RBI single from Eric De La Rosa and a sac fly off the bat of Gavin Stupienski.

The Rockers used six pitchers on the night. Starter Brandon Backman went three innings and Sonny Fauci tossed the fourth and fifth innings. Each recorded three strikeouts. Akeel Morris, Cole Roland and Jared Henry each tossed one inning while Jeff Heinrich closed out the game in the ninth. Heinrich allowed a lead-off double but then struck out the side.

“We saw exactly what we thought we’d see, two good teams going at it,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe. “Our pitching was good and we had some young guys out there really battling. The next three days will be crucial (leading up to cut down day). We have some really tough decisions ahead of us.”

The Rockers will continue to practice at Truist Point during the coming week before heading to Southern Maryland for the season opener on Friday, April 25. The Rockers open at home on Friday, May 2 against the Lexington Legends.