HIGHLANDERS FALL TO TRIBE IN EXTRAS

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WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Nick Thompson's 13th-inning home run lifted William & Mary to a 7-6 win over Radford at Plumeri Park. The game is the longest of the season and only the second loss in nine games for the Highlanders, who are now 3-2 in extra-inning games.

Radford took a 6-5 lead in the top of the eighth on Hunter Higgerson's team-leading third home run of the season. Higgerson sent a solo shot over the left field wall to give the Highlanders a late-inning lead. However, the Tribe rallied for the tying run in the bottom of the ninth on a Ryan Lindmuth RBI double.

"Games like this come down to execution, and tonight we lost that part of the game," Joe Raccuia said of his team's chances both to hold the lead late and to push across a run in extra innings.

RU let slip a golden opportunity in the top of the 12th after Aaron Scoville led off the inning hit by a pitch, and Nygeal Andrews walked. Shane Johnsonbaugh struck out with runners on the corners, and Danny Hrbek flew out to end the threat with bases loaded after Higgerson was intentionally walked.

The Highlanders gave starter Tyler Swarmer a lead before he took the mound. Josh Reavis doubled and came in to score on Patrick Marshall's double in the top of the first.

William & Mary responded to tie the game in both the first and second innings after RU had taken a one-run advantage. Chris Coia's sac fly after Zach Woolcock led off the second with a double gave RU a brief 2-1 lead.

After the Tribe took a 3-2 lead in the third, Reavis singled home two runs to give Radford its third lead of the game, 4-3, in the top half of the fourth. Thompson, however, got the lead right back for the hosts with a two-run double in the bottom half.

Radford fought back to tie the back-and-forth game in the sixth. Coia doubled and scored on an defensive error by the Tribe on a Blake Sipe sacrifice bunt. The game stayed tied until Higgerson's bomb in the eighth.

Swarmer earned a no-decision in 4.1 innings giving up five runs, four earned, on seven hits. The Highlanders used six pitchers, and Mitchell MacKeith (1-1) took the loss in 1.1 innings of work. Michael Costello surrendered the tying run in the ninth.

RU had four players notch multi-hit games. Higgerson, Woolcock, Marshall, and Reavis all recorded two hits as RU had 11 as a team.

Thompson finished 3-4 with three RBI and three runs scored to lead William & Mary (10-5). Kevin Casey (2-0) earned the victory.

Radford opens up Big South play this weekend with a three-game set beginning Friday at 4:00 p.m. at VMI.

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