From staff reports

SALISBURY — There are going to be some nights like this over the course of a baseball season, and Rowan County was buzz-sawed, 15-0, by a talented High Point squad on Thursday at Newman Park.

Rowan (12-3, 3-2) wasn’t very good or very lucky. Rowan’s only two hits — Charlie Klingler’s infield single in the fourth and Wayne Mize’s solid single in the fifth — were followed by line drives at the second baseman for double plays.

Most of the story was High Point hurler Luke Barrow, a 2020 graduate who signed with Coastal Carolina. Barrow barely broke a sweat, had only one 3-ball count during a walk-less night and fanned seven. Barrow took care of Rowan for seven innings while keeping his pitch count under 70.

High Point (7-2, 4-1) also did some serious swinging. N.C. Central-bound Chet Sikes tripled, doubled and singled and scored three times. CJ Johnson hit a three-run homer and two singles. Gavin Mortenson, a Western Carolina signee, drove in five runs with a two-run homer and two loud doubles.

High Point’s league loss was to a Randolph County team that roughed up Barrow early, but he had everything working against Rowan. He got early contact all night and while Rowan managed several well-hit flyballs, they stayed in Newman Park.

Ryan Street took the loss. He lasted four innings. He was strong in the third and fourth, but High Point had an 8-0 lead after two.

High Point got four runs on five solid hits in the top of the first.

Rowan didn’t get anyone out on a potential double play ball in the second inning, and the visitors took advantage for another four-run outburst.

High Point amassed 18 hits.

Rowan also sent Jonathan Spry, Andrew Kennerly and Bryson Wagner to the mound.

Spry had a 1-2-3 fifth, but the homers by Johnson and Mortenson knocked him out in a seven-run sixth that led to the 10-run-rule after seven. Kennerly and Wagner relieved in the sixth.

Rowan will attempt to bounce back on Saturday when it takes on Greensboro in a 5 p.m. doubleader.

 

High Point    440  007  0   — 15  18   0

Rowan           000  000 0    — 0    2    1

W — Barrow. L — Street.

HR — High Point: Johnson, Mortenson.