North Carolina State University Athletics
Baseball Falls to High Point
4/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
High Point, NC -- High Point University senior Kirk Harris launched a grand slam in the bottom of the 7th inning to give the Panthers a 9-6 win over visiting North Carolina State on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field.
First baseman Kemp Smith drove in the first run of the day for the Panthers as he doubled home Chris Vinar in the 2nd inning.
The Wolfpack answered in the 4th as Jamey Shearin hit a two-run homer to left field that gave the Atlantic Coast Conference members the lead.
High Point answered back with two of their own in the bottom of the 5th, as Vinar hit his second double of the day, driving in two Panther runners.
Colt Morton would tie the ballgame in the top of the 6th inning, as he hit his 11th home run of the year, a new NC State freshman record. After NCSU manufactured a run in their half of the 7th, HPU ripped Wolfpack reliever Jason Blanton for 6 runs in just 1/3 of an inning, including the Harris grand slam.
Also helping the High Point attack were Matt O'Neill (2-for-5, 2 runs), and Jayson Hoffman (3-for-3, 1 run).
Kevin Burch (7-3) threw 7.0 strong innings, striking out 3 while allowing 4 earned runs on 9 hits for his 7th win of the season. Blanton (2-1) took the loss for NC State in relief of starter Derek McKee who finished 6.0 innings of work, giving up 3 earned runs on 7 hits.
