HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh inning on a Logan Morrison RBI single and went on to take a 5-3 win from the Gastonia Honey Hunters Saturday night in front of 2,044 fans at Truist Point.
Morrison’s line drive to left in the seventh scored Jerry Downs who was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. Zander Wiel followed Downs with a double to put runners on second and third and set the table for Morrison’s RBI single. Gastonia replaced Onas Farfan with Euclides Leyer following Morrison’s hit and Leyer induced Quincy Latimore to ground out. Jay Gonzalez was intentionally walked to load the bases before Leyer walked Giovanny Alfonzo to force in Wiel and give the Rockers a 5-3 advantage.
High Point reliever Tyler Higgins struck out two Honey Hunters in shutting down Gastonia in the eighth. Ryan Dull allowed a double in the ninth but retired Gastonia on a strikeout and pair of infield pop outs to earn his 11th save of the year.
Neil Uskali started for the Rockers and went six innings, walking just one and striking out five. Junior Rincon (W, 1-1) pitched a scoreless seventh for the Rockers before handing it off to Higgins in the eighth.
The Rockers took an early 1-0 lead when Michael Russell led off the game with a single and stole second before scoring on a Downs double. High Point extended that to 2-0 in the second when Alfonzo singled, stole second and scored on Russell’s RBI double. Gastonia tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth on a two-run single by Alex Holderbach.
The Rockers went ahead 3-2 in the fourth as Alfonzo doubled and scored on a groundout by Downs. Gastonia knotted the game at 3-3 on Zach Jarrett’ solo homer in the sixth inning.
High Point is now 13-22 in the second half and 52-49 on the season. Gastonia stands at 25-10 in the second half and 70-31 overall.
High Point and Gastonia will conclude their three-game series at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday at Truist Point.
