BOYLE THROWS TWO-HIT SHUTOUT, STRIKES OUT 14 TO WIN FINALE AT WINTHROP, 1-0

BOX SCORE ROCK HILL, S.C. - Michael Boyle struck out a career best 14 Winthrop batters, including all three outs in the ninth, to finish his second career complete game, a two-hit shutout over the Eagles (16-18, 8-4), 1-0. The win salvages the final game of the series for RU and snaps a three-game losing streak for the Highlanders (16-14, 7-5).

"Our backs were against the wall today, and Boyle went out and got us a win," Radford head coach Joe Raccuia said. "He was dominant, and we needed it."

Boyle got all the offensive help he would need in the top of the fifth. With one out, Josh Reavis singled and advanced into scoring position on Chris Coia's sacrifice bunt. Blake Sipe delivered the game's only RBI with a single to plate Reavis.

Boyle did the rest. The left-hander gave up a single to Babe Thomas in the second and a one-out double in the ninth to TJ Olesczuk. With the tying run in scoring position in the ninth, Boyle struck out John Menken for the third time on the day and got Thomas to swing and miss to end the game. He threw 114 pitches, 81 of them for strikes, and walked two. Boyle had at least one strike out in every inning but the sixth and registered two Ks in five different innings.

Radford tallied six hits on the afternoon, all off Winthrop starter Josh Strong (0-5), who took the loss. Alexander Lee (2-4) had a pair of doubles, and Patrick Marshall (2-4) also had a multi-hit game.

Winthrop moved a runner into scoring position on Boyle in only two innings, the fifth when he issued both of the walks he would give up, and the ninth with the one-out double. The Eagles managed just five base runners all day.

Radford hosts James Madison on Wednesday at RU Baseball Stadium for a 6:00 p.m. start in non-conference action.

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