RIDER COMPLETES SWEEP ON THE BASEPATHS

BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 BLACKSBURG, Va. - Radford dropped a doubleheader Saturday to Rider, 15-7 and 5-3, as the Broncs completed a three-game sweep in a series played at English Field on the Virginia Tech campus. The Highlanders were two outs from salvaging the final game of the series, but Rider rallied for four runs to take the nightcap.

GAME ONE - Five Radford players had two hits apiece, including a two-run home run from Ryan Burgess, who was 2-3 with three RBI to lead the Highlander offense. Jeff Kemp was also 2-3 with a double and an RBI triple. Josh Gardiner, Patrick Marshall, and Chris Coia all collected a pair of hits as well.

While the offense found a way to put some runs on the board after being shutout in the opening game of the series, the pitching struggles continued. Nine of Rider's 17 hits were doubles, and Radford pitchers issued nine free passes with eight walks and a hit batter.

Michael Boyle (1-1) took the loss after going 3.0 innings and giving up four runs on five hits. He walked three and struck out four.

GAME TWO - After Jeff Kemp homered in the bottom of the sixth to give Radford a 3-1 lead, head coach Joe Raccuia gave the ball to closer Michael Costello, who had been perfect in four previous save opportunities on the season.

Costello and the Highlanders were two outs from snapping their three-game losing streak before a four-run rally in the top of the seventh downed the Highlanders, 5-3. Costello (0-1) suffered the loss and the blown save.

The Highlanders managed just four hits against Kurt Sowa, who went the distance on the mound for Rider and earned his second victory of the season. Shane Johnsonbaugh's double and Kemp's deep ball were the only extra base hits for RU. Alexander Lee drove in a run with a base hit, and Chris Coia had the only other single.

With the losses, Radford has now dropped four straight and stands at 5-5 on the season. The Highlanders travel to James Madison on Tuesday and host the Dukes on Wednesday in a home-at-home two-game series.

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