RUTV: RADFORD BASEBALL TAKES DOUBLEHEADER FROM CORNELL

Saturday, March 19

RADFORD

4:15 pm

Radford University

Cornell

RUTV: RADFORD BASEBALL TAKES DOUBLEHEADER FROM CORNELL

3/19/2011 6:48:44 PM | Baseball

BOX SCORES: GAME 1 | GAME 2

RADFORD, Va. – Radford got starting efforts of better than eight innings from right-handers Eddie Butler and Mark Peterson, and the Highlanders picked up a doubleheader sweep of Cornell on Saturday, 5-2 in the first game and 4-3 in the second.

Abram Williams saved both games of the doubleheader for Radford (11-6) and now has five this season.

With the losses, Cornell is 1-8.

“Peterson was electric, Butler gave us a great start, and we didn't have to use our bullpen much,” head coach Joe Raccuia said. “Abram came in and did a good job in both games.

“We did enough today, but not much offensively. Game two was a much better defensively than the first. But today showed us that we can't always win 22-1 – you have to find different ways to execute.”

GAME 1: RADFORD 5, CORNELL 2

Butler tossed 8 1/3 innings in his start, and the Highlanders plated two runs each in the second and fifth innings on the way to a 5-2 win.

Butler earned his third win of the season, fanning six while allowing five hits. He lasted into the ninth inning before walking two and giving way for the final two outs to Williams, who struck out two of the three men he faced to close it out.

Cory Turner went 2-for-3 for the Highlanders, driving in two of the five runs. Turner doubled with two outs in the fifth to bring home Matt Hillsinger to give Radford a 4-1 advantage, then singled in the seventh to knock home Jeff Kemp and make it a 5-2 lead.

Radford scored three of its five runs with two outs.

Jadd Schmeltzer was effective in the loss (0-2) for Cornell, allowing two earned runs on five hits over six innings.

GAME 2: RADFORD 4, CORNELL 3

Peterson retired the first 20 batters of the game and picked up his first win in a Radford uniform to lead the Highlanders.

Peterson (1-1) carried a perfect game bid into the seventh, before Mickey Brodsky's double to right center field marked Cornell's first hit. His eight strikeouts over 8 1/3 innings were a season-best.

Ryan Burgess had RBIs in the second and fourth innings and Zach Costello hit his second homer of the season, a solo blast to lead off the third, to lead the Highlanders offensively.

Radford got a run in the eighth on a throwing error with two outs by Cornell second baseman Brenton Peters, allowing Turner to reach and Alex Guerra to score from second to make it a 4-0 lead.

Peters made up for it with a solo homer to break up the shutout in the ninth, and two-out RBI singles by Ben Swinford and Ryan Plantier made it a 4-3 game before Williams came in to get the final out.

Taylor Wood went the distance for Cornell, allowing three earned runs on seven hits, but took the loss (1-2).

Radford and Cornell will close out the series at 11 a.m. Sunday morning – the game time was rescheduled in anticipation of inclement weather.