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 16th 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.
