BOX SCORE RADFORD, Va. - Alexander Lee delivered a two-out, two-strike single to right field to bring home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning as Radford (18-15, 8-6) rallied to defeat Coastal Carolina (16-20, 7-7), 5-4 on Saturday at RU Baseball Stadium. Lee plated the game-winner, but it was Hunter Higgerson's two-out solo home run in the eighth that tied it for the Highlanders to set up the ninth inning dramatics.

Chris Coia drew a one-out base on balls and stole second to set up the winning run in the ninth. Josh Gardiner was walked intentionally and with Coia, completed a double steal to take off the force play and move the winning run to third base. Lee fought off three pitches with two strikes before firing the base hit that left the series tied at a game apiece.

Tyler Poole (1-3) took the loss for the Chanticleers going 1.1 innings and giving up the tying and winning runs. His first delivery to the second batter he faced, Higgerson in the eighth, the Highlanders leader in home runs hit his sixth of the season and none bigger for the confidence boost it gave his team. Radford had built a 3-1 lead with a pair of runs in the sixth, but Coastal rallied to tie it in the seventh and take the lead in its half of the eighth.

Ryan Meisinger (4-0) earned the victory in 1.2 innings of relief with a pair of strikeouts.

Both starters handed quality starts to their respective bullpens. Tyler Costello was a workhorse in his second start of the season for Radford. He threw 101 pitches and left the game in the seventh with a 3-2 lead after 6.2 innings and seven hits. The pen didn't hold that lead, and he earned a no-decision. Austin Kerr also earned a no-decision after 5.1 innings and giving up three runs on seven hits for CCU.

Radford head coach Joe Raccuia lauded the grit his team showed in the victory. "Tyler gave us a good start and battled for every pitch all day. Higgerson obviously gave us a huge boost with the home run, and Coia's stolen base to go with Lee's clutch hit won it for us. It was great to see everyone on this team come through in this one."

Higgerson (2-4), Zach Woolcock (2-4), and Aaron Scoville (2-5) each recorded multiple hit games in the 11-hit attack for RU. Coastal also collected 11 hits, led by Connor Owings (5-5) and his five-hit day with a pair of doubles.

The two teams will play the rubber match of the series Sunday at 2:00 p.m.