OPENING DAY NAILBITER GOES TO JACKSONVILLE IN 11 INNINGS

BOX SCORE JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Radford's bid to come back late and take the first game of the opening series of the season came up short as Jacksonville scored a lead-off walk-off homerun in the 11th inning to defeat the Highlanders, 2-1.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the eighth inning, Radford pushed across the tying run to eventually force extra innings. Phil Bondi pinch ran after Zach Woolcock was hit by a pitch and stole second base. On the play, a throwing error by the catcher allowed Bondi to third, and then another error on the centerfielder for the Dolphins allowed the unearned run to score tying the game at a run apiece.

A two-out double in the sixth by Ethan Loosen gave the Dolphins a 1-0 lead after Jake Huxtable led off the inning being hit by a Tyler Costello pitch. Costello worked 5.1 innings in his starting role for RU. He struck out six and gave up two hits and an earned run.

James Woods, Jeff Maxwell, and Daniel Bridgeman all worked in relief. Woods struck out the only batter he faced, and Maxwell logged 2.1 scoreless innings giving up three hits, one of which was Loosen's double.

Bridgeman (0-1) pitched a scoreless ninth and tenth before giving up the game-winning hit to Loosen to begin the bottom of the 11th.

The Radford offense managed just a single hit on the night, a single by Josh Gardiner in the third inning. The Highlanders stranded four runners on the night, and JU committed four errors.

Radford and Jacksonville will play the middle game of the series tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. from Sessions Stadium.

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