BOX SCORE

RADFORD, Va. – For the second straight day, Radford outhit Liberty, but the Flames used a big four-run third and a 3-for-5 afternoon from Curran Redal in a 7-6 win in the finale of a Big South baseball series on Sunday.

Redal scored in the big third inning and homered in a two-run fourth, his second of the season, helping the Flames (22-9, 6-3 Big South) to the series sweep.  P.J. Jimenez added two RBIs in a 2-for-4 day.

Radford (13-16, 4-5) got a 4-for-6 day from Tyren Rivers, a 3-for-6 performance with two RBIs from Matt Hillsinger, and a 2-for-5 afternoon with two driven in from Robert Lamas, but it wasn't enough for the Highlanders, who scored in five of the last seven innings but lost their fourth straight.

“Chipping's not good enough,” head coach Joe Raccuia said.  “Usually when you're chipping, you've missed the green.  Plus you're scrambling.

“We needed a win.  You get wins by driving in runs, by not putting up single run innings.”

Liberty starter Steven Evans, who gave up 11 hits over five innings but struck out six, picked up the win (4-1).   J.J. McLeod went the final inning and two-thirds, striking out three for his fourth save of the season.

Radford right-handed starter Bobby Bolling lasted just 3 1/3 innings, taking the loss (1-1).

In the third inning, Liberty put the first two men on in Jeff Jefferson and Redal, with Jefferson scoring on Doug Bream's sacrifice fly to give the Flames the lead first for the third time in the series.  Tyler Bream's double brought home Redal to make it a 2-0 game.  With two outs, Matt Williams reached on an error before Jimenez struck the big blow with a two-run double, putting Liberty ahead 4-0.

Radford began to whittle away at the Liberty lead, with two of the runs coming in the fourth on Lamas' one-out double that scored Phil Bondi, who led off the inning with his first career hit.  Another scored in the fourth when Rivers drove home Lamas on a single to left field.

After getting within a run in the eighth when Cory Turner walked with the bases loaded and just one out, at 7-6, McLeod entered the game for Liberty and shut the door with the bases loaded, getting a strikeout and groundout to end the Radford threat.

“I feel better about this team this weekend, as opposed to last weekend,” Raccuia said.  “Our competitive nature was better, we played with better energy, and competed for at-bats and more pitches.  But we couldn't string anything along.”

The Highlanders host a pair of midweek games beginning on Tuesday, when Radford welcomes James Madison to town.  Longwood visits on Wednesday – both games begin at 3 p.m.