LIBERTY TOPS BASEBALL IN NON-CONFERENCE GAME, 6-3

BOX SCORE BOX SCORE

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty's Andy Smith went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer in the third to give the Flames the lead for good and a 6-3 non-conference win over Radford on Wednesday.

Matt Hillsinger (Bowie, Md., Archbishop Spalding) was 3-for-5 for the Highlanders (1-3) as part of a 10-hit afternoon. But Radford stranded 10 runners, including four in run-scoring chances in the seventh and ninth innings. Zach Costello (South Riding, Va., Paul VI) and Daniel Wright (Weyers Cave, Va., Fort Defiance) added 2-for-4 performances.

"We obviously need to be better with bringing in runners in scoring position," head coach Joe Raccuia said. "Getting runners on hasn't been a problem, but we can't do anything with them. Our at-bats have been getting worse with runners in scoring position - they should be getting better."

Radford struck first in the third after Hillsinger's single and an error at third on a ball hit by Jeff Kemp (Bowie, Md., Archbishop Spalding) put runners at second and third. Ryan Burgess (Richmond, Va., Steward School) grounded home a run on the next play, and Matt Mack (Davidsonville, Md., St. John's College H.S.) laid down a squeeze bunt to score Kemp and extend the lead to 2-0.

The Flames (5-0) answered in the home half when Zack Haley doubled home a run, and Smith hit his first homer of the season, a two-out blast, to put Liberty ahead 3-2. Wimmer knocked in another run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth to put the advantage at two.

Radford got a two-out run in the sixth to cut the Liberty lead to 4-3. Wright's two-out single extended the inning, then Josh Gardiner (Culpeper, Va., Eastern View) roped a double over the head of Smith in center field. He tried to extend it to a triple, but was thrown out at third – Wright touched the plate just before the tag to make it a one-run game.

The Highlanders had a scoring chance in the seventh when Costello and Hillsinger each had hits to lead off the inning – but Patrick Bankemper was able to retire Kemp, and lefty Tim Dudley came on to get both Burgess and Mack to keep Radford off the board.

Liberty added its insurance in the eighth when one-out singles by Smith and Mike Robertson turned into runs - Smith scored on an errant throw on a Robertson steal and Robertson came to the plate on a wild pitch.

Radford got the tying run to the plate in the ninth when Costello and Hillsinger had one-out singles, but Dudley was able to retire the final two batters for his first save.

Kody Young, who allowed one earned run on four hits in three innings as part of a staff effort, earned the win (1-0). Radford freshman lefty Jeff Maxwell (Lynchburg, Va., Brookville), making his first career start, took the loss after allowing four runs in four innings.

The Highlanders continue their 12-game road trip with a three-game series at Georgia Southern, beginning Friday night at 6:30.

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