BOX SCORE

RADFORD, Va. – Matt Hillsinger's (Bowie, Md./Archbishop Spalding) two-out triple in the 12th inning pushed across Brett Mollenhauer and extended Radford's winning streak to five with a 6-5 victory over UNC Asheville in the Big South baseball opener for both teams on Friday afternoon.

The Highlanders (8-7, 1-0 Big South) finally broke through on Asheville reliever Grier Harrington, who was working into his sixth shutout inning of relief, when Mollenhauer reached on an error with two down in the 12th.  Hillsinger hit a line drive just inside the right field line that rolled all the way into the corner, scoring Mollenhauer and giving Radford its fifth straight victory.

Radford has won its last three games at home with a walk-off hit – the Highlanders swept a doubleheader from Rider last Sunday (March 14) with two wins in their final at-bats.

Hillsinger's big day included a 3-for-5 performance with four RBIs, including a two-run triple in the third inning that put the Highlanders ahead 3-1.  Mollenhauer went 3-for-5, driving in a run and scoring twice.

Radford's relief pitching fired six scoreless frames to close out the game, with Abram Williams tossing 3 2/3 innings of shutout relief with four strikeouts while Jason Patten worked two perfect innings to earn the win (2-1).

“Thank goodness for Aerik Taylor, Abram Williams and Jason Patten,” head coach Joe Raccuia said.  “I thought that our rally in the third inning would have jump-started us with balls hit into the alley and scoring multiple runs.

“We got an opening day win and Matt Hillsinger came up clutch, which was nice to see.”

Harrington, who entered in the seventh, was the hard-luck loser (0-2) for UNC Asheville (4-10, 0-1).  The right-hander tossed five strong innings without allowing an earned run, striking out three and giving up two hits.

Ian Graham and Robert McIntosh had three hits each for the Bulldogs.  Graham's RBI single with two outs in the first inning got Asheville on the board.

“Give credit to Asheville,” Raccuia said.  “They remind me of where we were two years ago, because they play harder, more disciplined and approach the game better.”  

Radford's big inning was a four-run third, highlighted by Hillsinger's triple that gave Radford its first lead.  After Robert Lamas and Ryan Burgess reached to lead off the inning, Mollenhauer's single through the right side plated Lamas to tie the game at 1-1.   Up 3-1, Reggie Keen doubled with one out to score Hillsinger and cap the inning, making it 4-1 Radford.

Asheville answered with four in the seventh and tied the game when Catlin Carter grounded out with Robert McInthosh at third, scoring him on the play and making it a 4-4 game.    The next hitter, Danny Baatz, brought home Derrick Hopkins on an infield single to give the Bulldogs back the lead, 5-4.

In the bottom of the seventh, Radford answered to tie the game when pinch hitter Rick Hoogstraten, who walked to lead off the inning, scored on Hillsinger's single to left, making it a 5-5 game.

Radford and UNC Asheville continue the series on Saturday with game two at 2 p.m.