18-RUN, 23-HIT ATTACK LEADS RU PAST CHARLESTON SOUTHERN

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CHARLESTON, S.C. - Radford's offense came to life in all varieties Saturday as the Highlanders (13-9, 4-1) posted season highs in hits with 23 and runs with 18 in an 18-4 drubbing of Charleston Southern (14-10, 1-4) in the middle game of the Big South series at CSU Ballpark. Josh Gardiner and Hunter Higgerson both homered, and RU scored 10 times in the sixth to put the game away.

Dylan Nelson (4-0) cruised to his fourth victory coming back to the mound after missing a start in the rotation last weekend vs. VMI. Nelson scattered nine CSU hits over 5.2 innings and gave up two runs, but when he left the game, his team had already built a 16-2 lead.

"It was good to have Nelson back in the rotation and get a good start from him," Radford head coach Joe Raccuia said. "We got some timely hits and played pretty well tonight."

Gardiner led the way offensively with a 5-5 night, including his first home run of the season. He scored four runs and drove in three more. Higgerson tagged his fifth long ball of the season, which is tied for the lead in the Big South Conference. He drove in three runs to raise his team-high total to 20 for the season.

Aaron Scoville set a career high with four hits, which drove in two runs. The Highlanders had eight players finish with multiple hits. All nine players in the lineup scored in the sixth inning, when RU put together 10 runs on seven hits. Patrick Marshall knocked in a team-high four runs going 3-5, and Josh Reavis plated three with his 2-4 night. Alexander Lee remained the Big South's top hitter going 2-3 to bring his season average to .462.

Kyle Palmer worked 2.1 innings in relief giving up two runs on three hits. Austin Ross logged a scoreless inning of relief in the ninth.

Andrew Tomasovich (3-1) lasted just 4.0 innings and gave up 11 hits and four runs in taking the loss for the Buccaneers. Andrew Widell led the CSU offense with a 4-4 evening and and RBI.

Radford will go for the sweep Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

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