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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Marshall at Aurburn
10
Winner Youngstown State YSU 2-4
9
Radford RAD 6-8
Winner
Youngstown State YSU
2-4
10
Final
9
Radford RAD
6-8
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Youngstown State YSU 0 0 1 7 0 0 1 1 0 10 14 2
Radford RAD 0 1 2 0 2 4 0 0 0 9 13 1

W: KROKOS, Ryan (1-0) L: Bridgeman, Daniel (1-2) S: FITCH, Josh (1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

HIGHLANDERS SURRENDER LEAD AFTER BIG FOURTH INNING IN HOME OPENING LOSS TO YOUNGSTOWN STATE

RADFORD, Va. ---- In its 2015 home opener on Tuesday, March 10, at the Radford Baseball Stadium, Radford fell to Youngstown State, 10-9, after giving up three leads. Patrick Marshall cranked out two home runs and a game-high four RBI in the effort.
 
"Youngstown State's seven-run inning was obviously the backbreaker," said head coach Joe Raccuia. "We recovered from it, but we could not put the game away. They executed in that seven-run inning with some hit-and-runs and stolen bases that kept the pressure on. We have to learn how to control the inning. We gave them seven by not making plays. I thought we came ready to play, but we just didn't get enough outs. For us to be better, we will have to pitch better in these midweek games."
 
Marshall finished 3-4 at the plate with three runs and a walk to go along with his two long balls. He now has three homers on the season and leads the team, along with Josh Reavis, with 13 RBI. Despite not registering a hit, Reavis found a way on base to score two runs against the Penguins (2-4). Josh Gardiner, Danny Hrbek and Chris Coia notched two hits and two runs apiece. Hunter Higgerson's lone hit gave Radford (6-8) the lead in the sixth inning on a three-RBI double.
 
Tyler Swarmer pitched three innings on the hill in the start, striking out three batters and giving up four earned runs off six hits. Travis McQueen shouldered the majority of the work on the mound, pitching 3.1 innings and holding Youngstown State to four hits and one earned run. Daniel Bridgeman was given the loss after McQueen saw the Highlanders battle back from five runs down to take the lead 9-8 in the sixth. Bridgeman gave up a run and two hits.
 
Five different Penguins tallied a pair of hits. Ryan Cordova finished the day with a team-best two RBI. Shane Willoughby had the team's only extra base hit in the outing, finding a gap in right-center field for a triple. He finished with two hits and an RBI.
 
D.J. Carr pitched 4.2 innings in his first start of the season for Youngstown State. Carr struck out just one, while allowing five runs on seven hits. The Penguins went through five different pitchers on the mound, with Ryan Krokos picking up the win. Krokos pitched 2.1 innings, while holding Radford to no runs and two hits. Josh Fitch earned a save, striking out one and allowing no hits with the bases loaded in the ninth.
 
After watching the Highlanders come back from five down to take the lead at 9-8, the Penguins tied it back up in the top of seventh with an RBI single from Jason Shirley. Jake Fryman came in to score on the single to right center. Youngstown State tallied what would be the game-winning run in the eighth on a RBI triple from Willoughby.
 
The Red and White opened the scoring in the second inning on a single by Coia to score Hrbek. Hrbek singled to second base and then stole his fourth base of the year. A single straight back to the pitcher by Jordan Taylor moved Hrbek to third before Coia's shot to centerfield.
 
The Penguins tallied a run in the top of the third, but the tie was short lived after Marshall cleared the fence in right field to put Radford on top 3-1.
 
Heading into the fourth inning with only two hits, Youngstown State posted seven runs on eight hits to take a five-run advantage. The Penguins opened the frame with six-consecutive singles that scored three runs. The first out of the inning was recorded on a fielder's choice that scored another. Willoughby found a hole at second to reach base and put runners on the corners. A second fielder's choice notched a run before Alex Larivee singled up the middle to score the seventh run of the side.
 
In an 8-3 hole, the Highlanders clawed their way back into the game with Marshall's second two-run homer of the game. Three runs against Youngstown State put Marshall in second on the team through 14 games with 12 runs. The comeback continued in the sixth, starting with a single off the bat of Coia. A double from Gardiner put two runners in scoring position. Higgerson hit his fourth double of the season to score three runs and put Radford back on top 9-8.
 
The midweek series finale against the Penguins is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, at 4 p.m. at the Radford Baseball Stadium. Austin Ross is slated to start on the hill for the Highlanders.
 
For the latest news on the Radford baseball team, follow the Highlanders on Twitter at @RadfordBaseball. To keep up with all Radford athletics, follow @RU_Athletics on Twitter.
 
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