HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers survived a bases loaded jam in the top of ninth inning and posted a second straight win over the Gastonia Ghost Peppers, winning 5-3 on Thursday night at Truist Point.

The Rockers upped their record to 17-19 for the second half and 46-53 on the year. Gastonia is now 17-18 and 55-43.  The Rockers ‘s 3.5 games out of first place in the Atlantic League’s South Division and in fourth place, a half-game behind Gastonia and one game back of Southern Maryland.

The Rockers wasted no time in scoring on Thursday against Gastonia starter Sterling Sharp (L, 0-2), using back-to-back singles from Luke Napleton and Ivan Melendez to put two aboard before Hogan Windish mashed a double to give High Point a 2-0 lead.

The Rockers went up 3-0 in the second when Aidan Brewer hit a solo homer, his ninth of the season, to further the Rockers’ lead.

The score remained the same until the seventh when Brewer singled, stole second and scored on Melendez’s bloop single to shallow right. Gastonia pitcher Tyler Broadway then hit Windish with a pitch to push Melendez to second. Ryan McCarthy’s single to right brought home Melendez to put the Rockers up 5-0.

Rockers starter Sam Ryan (W, 1-3) had his best outing of the season, hurling seven scoreless innings and holding the Ghost Peppers to five hits and a walk while striking out eight.

Gastonia tallied a pair of runs in the eighth off reliever Kyle Halbohn before he turned it over to closer Nick Trabacchi to start the ninth. Gastonia used a walk and a pair of singles to load the bases before tallying one run on a wild pitch. But Trabacchi was able to strike out Justin Wylie looking for the final out of the game to secure his second save in as many nights.

Brewer, Napleton and Melendez all finished with a pair of hits for the Rockers while Wade Kelly and Grant Lavigne led the Peppers with three hits.

Friday’s game four of the series will have the rockers sending RHP Matt Colucci (4-4, 5.01) to the mound to face Gastonia RHP Dylan Banner (1-1, 7.71). Rocker fans can follow the action live on DugoutTV.org or the audio broadcast on the free app MixLR.