RADFORD SWEEPS TWIN BILL FROM TEMPLE, WINS FIFTH STRAIGHT

BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 RADFORD, Va. – Radford Baseball swept a doubleheader from Temple on Wednesday at RU Baseball Stadium. In a pair of seven-inning contests, the Highlanders (7-6) defeated the Owls (1-7), 6-3 in game one and completed the sweep with 3-1 victory in the nightcap.

Game 1
Senior Alexander Lee went 4-for-4 with two RBI and Radford broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run fifth en route to the 6-3 win.

With the bases loaded and one out in the fifth, sophomore Hunter Higgerson broke the deadlock with two-run bases loaded double to the gap in left center. Blake Sipe capped off the frame with an RBI groundout, pushing the lead to 4-1.

The Owls got two back in the sixth on a two-run home run by Robert Amaro, but the Highlanders responded with two in the sixth and sophomore Nygeal Andrews recorded the final four outs for the save.

Lee recorded his fifth double of the season and also scored a run. Higgerson finished 1-for-2 with two RBI and Josh Gardner scored a pair of runs. Andrews struck out two of four batters to earn his first save of the season.

Redshirt senior James Woods (2-0) picked up the win in two innings of relief, including an eight-pitch fifth in which he recorded two of his three strikeouts. In all, Woods surrendered two runs on two hits and did not walk a batter.

The Highlanders got on the board quickly when Lee knocked in the first run of the game with a two-out RBI single in the first, plating Josh Reavis, who doubled with out out.

Jimmy Kerrigan's two-out run scoring single evened the contest in the fourth.

Following the Temple long ball, Lee's fourth hit of the game, an RBI single the scooted through the infield, made it 5-3. Redshirt sophomore Zach Woolcock's high chopper to third added the second and final run.

Tyler Swarmer started and earned a no decision. In 3.2 innings, he surrendered a run on two hits with three strikeouts and a walk.

Game 2

In the nightcap, Radford scored three runs the first inning and held on for a 3-1 triumph and complete the twinbill sweep.

Three RBI base knocks in the bottom of the first staked the Highlanders to a 3-0 advantage. Junior Josh Gardiner started the rally with a run-scoring double, sneaking one just inside the third base bag. Two-out RBI singles by Andrews and Higgerson extended the lead to 3-0. All the runs were unearned after Aaron Scoville struck out to lead of the frame, but reached when he was struck in the back on the throw to first.

Gardner and Higgerson each notched two hits with an RBI. Gardiner also scored a run and recorded one of Radford's five stolen bases.

In a three-hit second for the Owls, Reyn Sugai's RBI single in the second put the visitors on the board and cut the Radford lead to 3-1.

That would be it for either side. The Highlanders' pitching staff held the Owls to just two base hits over the final five innings, while Radford generated just two hits in the final six frames.

Sophomore Mitchell MacKeith picked up his first win of the season, scattering six hits and allowing a run in four innings of work. He struck out three and walked one.

Freshman Kyle Zurak (1 H, 1 BB, 1 K) kept the Owls at bay for 1.1 innings and redshirt junior Michael Costello earned a five-out hitless save. He struck out two and walked one for his second one of the year.

Andrews swiped two bases for the Highlanders and recorded a run and a hit.

The Highlanders continue their eight-game homestand on Friday with game one of three-game series against Bryant. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

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