HIGH POINT, NC – Christian Smith delivered a walk-off single in the ninth, giving High Point University a 3-2 win over the Aggies Tuesday night at Truist Point, home of the High Point Rockers minor league team.

Even Smith's game-winner didn't overshadow the Aggies' strong pitching, led by junior right-hander Agyei Qunichett. In his first start of the season, Qunichett threw 74 pitches over four innings, allowing two runs on three hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

Quinichett's counterpart, HPU RHP Justin Silverstein, retired the first two batters he faced in the visitors' first. He then walked sophomore Tyler Smith, which later cost him as sophomore Bruce Wyche followed with a single to put runners on first and third. Silverstein compounded his problems by unleashing a wild pitch to score Smith to give the Aggies an early 1-0 lead. Quinichett began by striking out Willie Ponce. Jack Clark then singled and stole second. Landen Johnson walked on four pitches and tried to steal second, but a throwing error let Clark tie the game at 1-1.

The Aggies quickly responded.

Senior Luis Gomez led off the top of the second with a single. He moved to second on a groundout before advancing to third base on a passed ball. A fielding error by HPU catcher Seojun Oh led to Gomez scoring to give the Aggies a 2-1 lead. Freshman Luis Acevedo later reached on a fielder's choice, and the Aggies added a runner on the base paths when senior Nick DiCarlo walked. But the Aggies could not capitalize when senior Andrew Tinsley struck out to end the frame.

Quinichett threw a perfect second and worked around a double and a walk in the third. He could not escape the fourth unscathed. He walked Oh to start the inning. With one out, Jace Kohler singled and reached second on a throwing error. That error also allowed Oh to move to third and score on Smith's RBI sacrifice fly, tying the game at 2-2.

A&T brought in RHP Jason Johnson for the fifth. He tossed a scoreless frame before Diego Barrett took over. Barrett retired the first eight Panthers he faced before giving up a two-out single to Lane Allen in the eighth, but HPU stranded him. Barrett pitched three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out one.

Gomez opened the Aggies ninth with a single off HPU LHP Dalton Hitt (W, 1-1). Hitt recouped by striking out two consecutive batters before getting Acevedo to fly out, sending the game into the home ninth, where the Panthers produced the walk-off single. The decisive inning started with A&T graduate RHP Kobie Cushing striking out Jake McCarter. Cushing followed by walking Kohler on four pitches. Pinch runner Marcus Martin then stole second base, where he eventually scored on Smith's RBI single.

Hitt pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts to earn the win. Gomez went 2-for-3 to lead the Aggies. A&T dropped to 9-22 overall while HPU improved to 22-10. A&T resumes Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play Friday, traveling to face College of Charleston at Patriots Point on April 10 at 6 p.m.