RADFORD KNOCKS OFF #4 VIRGINIA, STRETCHES STREAK TO SCHOOL RECORD EIGHT WINS

BOX SCORE CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Radford recorded its most historic baseball victory Wednesday night at Virginia. The Highlanders defeated a top 10 team for the second time in their history, but the first over a team ranked as high as No. 4 as the Cavaliers were entering the game. RU held on for a 9-8 win at Davenport Field.

RU's previous win over a top 10 team was over South Carolina in 2003. The eight-game win streak for the Highlanders ties a school record set in 1989.

The Highlanders (20-11) struck for three runs in the top of the first. Josh Gardiner led off the game with a walk followed by a Josh Reavis single. Jeff Kemp reached on an error, and Zach Woolcock plated the first run on a groundout. Alexander Lee singled home a pair of runs, and RU took a lead it would never give up.

After the Cavaliers scored a run in the bottom half of the first, the Highlanders exploded for six runs on six hits in the second. The highlight was a Kemp three-run homer to left field. Reavis also knocked in a run with a single, and Hunter Higgerson delivered a two-run double to give the Highlanders a 9-1 lead.

Virginia (30-4) tallied a run in the fourth on a solo homer by Mike Papi, and added two more on a two-run homer in the sixth by Derek Fisher.

Dylan Nelson (4-2) lasted 6.0 innings and allowed four runs on four hits to earn the victory. Jeff Maxwell worked two innings of scoreless relief, and the Highlanders took a 9-4 lead into the bottom of the ninth. They would need all of the five-run lead.

After Daniel Bridgeman started the inning on the mound and was unable to get an out before the Cavaliers loaded the bases, closer Michael Costello came on to earn the save, but it wasn't without some tense moments for Radford fans.

The Cavaliers rallied for four runs, but Costello got clean-up hitter Brandon Downes to pop up with runners at first and second to end the game. The save was Costello's seventh of the season.

Radord hosts High Point in a Big South North Division series this weekend. First pitch at RU Baseball Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

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