BOX SCORE RADFORD, Va. – Eddie Butler pitched his second shutout of the season and struck out nine Presbyterian College batters, leading Radford to a 7-0 Big South series-opening win on Friday night.
 
Brett Mollenhauer had the big hit for the Highlanders (24-17, 9-4 Big South), a three-run triple in the seventh inning that expanded the lead to 5-0, and put Radford in control.
 
Butler's five-hitter was his second shutout of the season and his third complete game effort in his last four starts.  It was the fifth time in as many starts that Butler (5-3) has worked into the eighth inning.
 
He used 118 pitches, and struck out the side in the ninth inning after sitting while the Highlanders scored twice and sent seven batters to the plate in the bottom of the eighth.  On his final pitch of the game, Butler struck out Robby Swab on a 96 mile-per-hour fastball with runners at first and second.
 
Kenny Bryant had two of the five hits for the Blue Hose (18-24, 6-10), a pair of doubles.
 
Presbyterian threatened to score first in the third – Brandon Paul singled with one out, and then with two outs Andrew Williams walked and Billy Motroni reached on an error to load the bases.  With All-American Brad Zebedis at the plate, Butler's 0-2 pitch got through to the backstop – Paul took off for home, but catcher Carl Travers recovered and threw home to Butler, who applied the tag on Paul to end the inning.
 
Blue Hose right-handed starter Bud Jeter didn't allow a hit until the sixth, but Radford got a run without a hit in that inning to score first, when Jeff Kemp was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.  Two batters later, Matt Mack dropped a single into left field to bring home another run and give the Highlanders a 2-0 lead.
 
Jeter (3-7) lasted 6 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
 
Both teams finished the game with five hits.
 
The teams will play a Saturday doubleheader, beginning at 1 p.m.