BOYLE TOSSES A GEM; RADFORD WINS BIG SOUTH OPENER OVER KEYDETS

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LEXINGTON, Va. - Michael Boyle earned his first victory of the season with 7.0 innings of five-hit baseball Friday to lead Radford to 6-1 victory at Gray-Minor Stadium in the Big South opener and game one of a three-game set for both teams. Boyle improved to 1-2 on the season giving up a single run in his best effort of the season.

While Boyle was keeping the VMI bats at bay, Hunter Higgerson delivered on three separate occasions on the offensive end, including his fourth home run of the season in a three-run eighth inning to put the game away for the Highlanders. Higgerson knocked RBI base hits in both the fourth and sixth innings for a career-high five RBI on the day going 3-4 at the plate.

"We got a great game from Boyle and played error free on the defensive end," Radford head coach Joe Raccuia said. "Higgerson came up with some huge at bats to lead us to the win."

In a scoreless tie in the fourth, Josh Reavis led off with a single for RU and eventually stole home when Josh Gardiner was caught in a run-down after breaking for second base on a steal attempt. Gardiner safely returned to first base, and Reavis plate home the go-ahead run. Radford never trailed in the game.

Higgerson drove in the five remaining runs to give Radford (10-8, 1-0) its eighth win in the last 10 games. VMI fell to 9-8, 0-1 and 7-3 at home.

The teams will play the final two games of the series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.

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