HIGH POINT, N.C. - On the same day as their college graduation, the CSU seniors combined for seven of the team's 16 hits as the Buccaneers downed Big South foe High Point 10-3 on Saturday evening at Williard Stadium in High Point, N.C.

Senior outfielder Brantley Meier paved the way for the Bucs, going 3-for-6 with three runs and two RBI. Fellow senior Tom Burkett also had two hits and two RBI, as well as a run of his own while Matt Still and Derek Smith each added in a hit and a run.

Though unable to attend the commencement ceremonies, the seniors helped CSU move to 24-23 on the season and 11-9 in the Big South. With Coastal Carolina sweeping Radford in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, the Bucs sit in fourth place in the Big South with seven conference games remaining.

The Bucs' offense was bolstered by the efforts of underclassmen as well, with sophomore Jaren Sustar and junior Walt Quattlebaum adding in three hits and a run each. Junior relief pitcher Ali Williams saw the bulk of the action and pitched 4.1 scoreless innings. Williams struck out six batters and walked one, giving up one unearned run on the day to move to 2-1 on the season. Charlie McCready struck out four and gave up one earned run in 3.0 innings to pick up his fifth save of the season. The CSU pitching staff gave up just three hits to the Panthers.

Unlike the Bucs, the Panthers' offense struggled for hits. Sal Pezzino, Drew Geissinger and Kyle Mahoney each had a hit for High Point, while Geissinger, Mahoney and Preston Packrall crossed home plate. Mike Caldwell took the loss for HPU, giving up eight hits and four runs in 6.0 innings.

Meier singled through the left side to start the game and was driven home on a double by Sustar to give the Bucs the early 1-0 lead. Quattlebaum then singled up the middle to score Sustar, making it 2-0 in favor of CSU. The Panthers returned the favor, with Geissinger scoring on a wild pitch to put High Point on the board at 2-1 in the bottom of the first.

Burkett singled to left field in the first at-bat of the third inning and was brought home by Quattlebaum, who singled to right field. Ahead 3-1, the Bucs made two defensive errors in the top of the fourth that put Mahoney across home plate to cut HPU's deficit to 3-2.

However, a six-run seventh inning would assure the Bucs the win. After Still was hit by a pitch, Quattlebaum's third single of the day moved him to second before Brian Welch singled to send Still home for the 4-2 lead. Smith singled to load the bases, which later allowed Quattlebaum to score when Blake Hunt was hit by a pitch. Up 5-2, Meier drove in two more runs with a single to left field, scoring Smith and Welch to pad the lead at 7-2. Burkett then hit his third triple of the season, scoring Meier and Hunt as the Bucs' took a 9-2 advantage.

Meier singled to right field to start the ninth inning and eventually scored on a High Point error to add another run to the 10-2 tally. The Panthers attempted a comeback in the bottom of the inning, but would only pick up one more run. Packrall scored on a sac fly by Steve Antolik, but the damage was too great as the Bucs took the 10-3 victory.

The Bucs and the Panthers will conclude the series on Sunday afternoon with a 2 p.m. tilt at Williard Stadium.