RADFORD ROLLS PAST CAMPBELL IN SERIES OPENER

BOX SCORE RADFORD, Va. - Hunter Higgerson's three-run home run capped a four-run fifth inning where Radford took the lead for good and cruised to a 10-3 win over Campbell in the first game of a three-game Big South series Thursday night at RU Baseball Stadium. RU followed the four-run fifth with five more in the sixth to put the game away and earn Dylan Nelson (5-3) his fifth win of the season.

Nelson gave up a two-run single to John Reilly in the second inning, but worked his way out of trouble all night as the Camels stranded nine runners. Campbell placed at least one runner in scoring position in each of the first five innings against Nelson, but the right-hander battled all night to earn the victory, which was his first in four starts.

"I thought Nelson was outstanding tonight," RU head coach Joe Raccuia said. "He fought to keep us in the game early until our offense got it going with Higgerson, Chris Coia, Patrick Marshall, and Josh Gardiner."

Higgerson finished 3-5 with his team-leading eighth big fly of the season. He has now driven in a team best 31 runs. Coia was 4-4 with a double and two runs scored. Gardiner (3-5) also had three hits, two runs, and an RBI. Marshall drove in a pair of runs and scored another with a 2-3 night. In all, the Highlanders pounded out 15 hits, 10 of them coming off Campbell starter Heath Bowers (6-2), who gave up eight runs in 5.1 innings. Nelson went 7.2 innings with two runs given up and scatterring nine hits while walking one. He struck out six.

Danny Pardo and Matt Parrish each went 2-4 to lead the CU offense.

With the win, the Highlanders (19-17, 9-7) keep pace with VMI and High Point tied for third in the Big South's North Division. All three gained a game on the second place Camels (25-13, 11-5).

The two teams will play the middle game of the series Friday night at 6:30 p.m. It will be Military Appreciation night at RU Baseball Stadium.

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