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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Daniel Bridgeman
Radford Athletics Communications
5
Winner Radford RAD 44-15
2
Lipscomb LIP 39-20
Winner
Radford RAD
44-15
5
Final
2
Lipscomb LIP
39-20
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Radford RAD 0 0 1 0 1 3 0 0 0 5 10 0
Lipscomb LIP 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 2

W: Ridgely, Zack (5-1) L: PUCKETT (7-3) S: Meisinger, Ryan (16)

Game Recap: Baseball |

HIGHLANDERS MAKE HISTORY WITH FIRST-EVER NCAA POSTSEASON VICTORY

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - With a 5-2 win over Lipscomb (39-20) Saturday in the Nashville Regional, No. 17 Radford (44-15) recorded its first NCAA Tournament victory in program history and remained alive in the elimination bracket of the regional hosted by Vanderbilt at Hawkins Field.
 
"It's nice to survive, obviously," Radford head coach Joe Raccuia said. "I am proud of our team because it is the first time we have won an NCAA game. I am happy for the community and Radford University to get to experience a win."
 
Zack Ridgely (5-1) allowed five hits and two runs in 5.0 innings pitched to earn the victory on the mound. A 1:20 weather delay before the start of the bottom half of the sixth inning ended his day having posted three straight scoreless innings after giving up a two-run homer in the second to Josh Lee.
 
The Highlander offense woke up just in time to give the freshman hurler the run support he needed to earn the win on the mound.
 
Chris Coia tripled into the right field corner with one out in the third and scored on a Shane Johnsonbaugh sacrifice fly to cut the Bisons' lead in half. The duo combined again in the fifth to tie it. Coia singled with one out and came around to even the game 2-2 when Johnsonbaugh found the left-center gap for a double.
 
Radford scored the winning runs in the sixth just before the delay.
 
Danny Hrbek doubled off the right field wall to open the frame. Brad Keen turned a sac bunt into a single when he beat the throw to first to put runners at the corners with no outs. Lipscomb starter Brady Puckett's (7-3) attempt to pick-off Keen at first got away, and Hrbek gave the Highlanders the lead for good on the play. Keen moved to third on a wild pitch on scored on an Aaron Scoville sac fly to make it 4-2. Trevor Riggs rounded out the scoring with a solo home run to left field.
 
"It was a well-played game," Raccuia said. "We beat a good team that can really defend the field. I am sorry it got interrupted especially with Ridgely getting through the fifth cleanly. I would have loved to see him extend."
 
From there, however, the Radford bullpen dominated.
 
Daniel Bridgeman took the hill following the weather delay and shut down the LU offense. He allowed just one hit and walked a batter while striking out five in 3.0 innings of scoreless relief. He set up Ryan Meisinger for his 16th save of the season recording a pair of strikeouts in the ninth.
 
With the win, Radford advanced to play Sunday against the loser of Vanderbilt / Indiana, who are playing the Saturday nightcap. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. (CT). The Highlanders will have to win two games on Sunday to force a decisive game in the regional on Monday.
 
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