BOX SCORE RADFORD, Va. – Alex Buccilli hit solo homers in the first and ninth innings, leading No. 25 Coastal Carolina to a 4-2 Big South series-opening win over Radford on Friday night.
 
Both starting pitchers worked deep into the game and were sharp – Radford (14-12, 3-1 Big South) righty Eddie Butler struck out nine in 7 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits in the loss (2-2).  Coastal (17-7, 1-0) starter Josh Conway went seven innings, struck out six and allowed two runs on four hits to earn the win (3-1).
 
“Those two guys are good,” head coach Joe Raccuia said.  “We were fortunate to get on the board when we did in the seventh.  Butler's stuff was electric and definitely made enough pitches to get us the win.  Conway's command makes him look like he's playing catch out there.”
 
With two outs and the tying run on base for the Highlanders in the bottom of the ninth inning, pinch-hitter Hunter Higgerson hit a 2-2 pitch off of Coastal reliever Austin Kerr on a towering fly to deep left field, but with his back against the wall Adam Eggnatz made the catch to end the game.
 
Kerr pitched to one batter to earn his second save.
 
“I should have played Higgerson earlier in the baseball game – he's done nothing but hit,” Raccuia said.  “He's a good player, and he took two good swings and was about a foot away from leaving the yard and giving us the win.”
 
Matt Hillsinger hit a two-run homer (6) to get the Highlanders on the board in the bottom of the seventh, following Jeff Kemp's leadoff single.  Matt Mack, who singled with two outs in the ninth inning to keep the game going, extended his hitting streak to 13 games.
 
Buccilli and Tucker Frawley had the only multi-hit games – Frawley doubled home the go-ahead run for Coastal in the fourth with two outs, making the lead 3-0.  Daniel Bowman had the other run-scoring hit in the third on a double to score Buccilli.
 
The series continues at 4 p.m. on Saturday.