RADFORD LOSES A NAILBITER TO CAMPBELL, FACES FLAMES ON THURSDAY

BOX SCORE LYNCHBURG, Va. - An unearned run in the seventh inning for Campbell proved the difference as Radford fell, 4-3, in the second round of the 2013 Big South Baseball Tournament to the top-seeded Fighting Camels.

In a game that was delayed 1:47 due to weather and lasted well into Thursday morning, the Highlanders gave up the deciding run on a two-out pop up behind first base after Campbell's Brent Graham doubled to left field. Alexander Lee had the ball go off his glove, and Graham came in to score and give the Camels a 4-3 lead that Big South Pitcher of the Year, Ryan Thompson (9-0) turned into his ninth win of the season.

The Highlanders rallied off Thompson in the top of the seventh to tie the game. Four straight one-out singles by Jeff Kemp, Patrick Marshall, Zach Woolcock, and Lee led to a run. Lee's looping liner to right field drove in Kemp to tie the game at three. A Ryan Burgess double play ball ended the threat, however.

Earlier in the game, Burgess had given the Highlanders a 2-1 lead when he led off the sixth with a double and came in to score on a squeeze bunt by Chris Coia.

Campbell answered that go-ahead run with a two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth to take its first lead of the night. Will Albertson delivered a two-run single to put the Camels in front, 3-2.

Radford played with a 1-0 lead throughout the first half of the game. The Highlanders pushed across an unearned run in the top of the first when Josh Reavis walked and moved to second on a botched pick-off attempt by CU starter, Heath Bowers. Marshall then reached on a fielder's choice as Graham's throw to try and turn the double play was wide of the bag at first. Reavis scored on the throwing miscue to giver RU the early lead.

Radford starter Michael Boyle worked his way out of trouble most of the night in 5.2 innings of work. He left with a 2-1 lead in the sixth, but the two-out rally that gave Campbell the lead was his responsibilty as Jeff Maxwell came on in relief and gave up the go-ahead single to Albertson.

Boyle got a no-decision when the offense tied the game in the seventh, and Maxwell (0-3) took the loss after surrendering the tough-luck unearned run in the bottom half. Boyle's biggest mistake of the night came in the fifth when Nick Ray launched his first home run of the season over the right field wall to tie the game at a run apiece.

Radford head coach Joe Raccuia said his team played okay, but let an opportunity get away.

"We can't expect to beat a good team like Campbell when we play that loose. I thought Boyle and Maxwell threw well. It was a big spot for a freshman, and Boyle gave us a chance to win the game."

With the loss, Radford (30-25) falls to the elimination round Thursday at 6:00 p.m. against host Liberty. The Highlanders defeated the Flames 6-3 on Tuesday in the opening round.

Print Friendly Version