HIGHLANDERS OPEN LIBERTY SERIES WITH 6-3 VICTORY

BOX SCORE LYNCHBURG, Va. - Radford (29-22, 14-8) exploded for six runs in the second inning Thursday night at Liberty (27-26, 11-11), and three Highlander pitchers made it stand up in a 6-3 series-opening win over the Flames.

Tyler Costello (6-4) worked three innings in a scheduled short start to earn the victory giving up one run on four hits. Dylan Nelson was superb in 4.2 innings of scoreless relief, and Daniel Bridgeman gave up two run, both unearned, closing out the final 1.1 innings. Costello and Nelson both struck out three.

After Josh Gardiner led off the game iwth a double down the left field line and stole third, the Highlanders failed to capitalize in the first inning. RU didn't let the opportunity to take control of the game get away in the second.

Alexander Lee's leadoff walk set the tone for a six-run inning that included a run-scoring fielder's choice by Chris Coia, an RBI single from Gardiner, a Patrick Marshall bases loaded hit by pitch, and a two-run single from Zach Woolcock.

RU head coach Joe Raccuia said. "I thought all three pitchers pounded the strike zone, and we got a couple key hits from Gardiner and Woolcock. It was a quality win."

Liberty cut the lead to 6-1 in the third. Dalton Britt led off the inning with a single and came around to score on a wild pitch.

The Highlander defense came through in the sixth when Liberty mounted its biggest threat of the game.

Ryan Cordell led off with a single followed by another base hit by Trey Wimmer. Cordell tried to move into third base on the single to left, but Woolcock cut him down with an outfield assist. With runners then at first and second, another base hit by Bryan Aanderud led to another outfield assist, this one by Blake Sipe. Sipe's cutoff thrugh caught Danny Gauer in a run-down for the second out of the inning.

In all, the Flames had three hits and a hit batter in the inning, but did not score.

Liberty starter Josh Richardson (2-3) took the loss after logging 2.0 innings and giving up six runs, four of which were earned. Blake Fulghum shut the Highlanders down for the final seven innings as he scattered four base hits and struck out eight without a walk.

The Flames added a pair of unearned runs in the ninth after Alex Close and Sammy Taormina both reached on RU fielding miscues to begin the inning. They came around to score on a sac fly from Britt and an RBI single from Cordell.

The two teams will play the middle game of the series and possibly a doubleheader on Friday pending the weather forecast. The first game of the day has been moved up to 3:00 p.m.

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