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Higgerson-20160403
1
Campbell CAM 15-14
2
Winner Radford RAD 8-20
Campbell CAM
15-14
1
Final
2
Radford RAD
8-20
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Campbell CAM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 4 0
Radford RAD 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 8 1

W: Krupp, Mack (1-0) L: DOWSE, Erik (2-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

ANOTHER HIGGERSON WALKOFF, ANOTHER RADFORD WIN



GAME INFORMATION
  • Score: Radford 2, Campbell 1
  • Records: Radford (8-20, 3-3) | Campbell (15-14, 3-3)
  • Location: RU Baseball Stadium | Radford, Va.                                        
RADFORD, Va. – Dramatic wins must run in the Higgerson family as Colby Higgerson lined a single up the middle, scoring Jordan Taylor from third base for a 2-1 walkoff win over Campbell in the bottom of the ninth of the Sunday afternoon rubber match.
 
The Highlanders controlled a 1-0 lead heading into the ninth inning on the shoulders of a lights out performance by Mitchell MacKeith on the mound. MacKeith had only allowed one hit through eight strong innings, losing a no-hit bid with two outs in the top of the fifth.
 
Campbell sent pinch hitter Justin Lamazares to the plate to kick off the ninth inning. Lamazares worked a full count on MacKeith, before launching an opposite field home run to right as Trevor Riggs made an attempt to rob the game tying blast, falling just short.  
 
MacKeith settled down, retiring the next two batters. Brian Taylor lifted a single into center field and Matt Parrish followed with an infield hit.
 
Radford went to its bullpen, bringing in Mack Krupp to face Zack Minnick, but hit Minnick to load the bases. Krupp got out of the bases loaded jam on a Jimmy Monaghan groundout to short as Higgerson fielded the ball cleanly with strong throw to first.
 
After watching its 1-0 lead slip away, Radford looked to string together its own rally for a victory. Taylor led off the bottom of the ninth with a double to the right-center field gap.
 
Following the Taylor double, pinch hitter Adam Whitacre stepped up to the plate in a sacrifice bunt opportunity. Whitacre fouled off his first bunt attempt, but following a balk from Erik Dowse that moved Taylor to third, the freshman was freed to swing away.
 
With Campbell's infield playing in, Whitacre grounded out to the shortstop, setting the stage for Higgerson. Part of MacKeith's success on the mound was credited to Higgerson as the freshman made countless plays at shortstop. The freshman received an opportunity to make an impact on both sides of the ball with Taylor standing on third base and one out in the inning.
 
Higgerson stayed patient at the dish, working the count to 3-1. Receiving the green light from Joe Raccuia, Higgerson lined a single up the middle, scoring Taylor from third base for the 2-1 walkoff win. Higgerson was serenaded behind first base by a charging Highlander dugout with water bottles in hand as a dogpile ensued.
 
The walkoff win was the first for Radford since Higgerson's older brother Hunter Higgerson sealed the Highlanders first Big South Tournament Championship in a 5-4 comeback win versus Coastal Carolina on May 23, 2015.
 
Radford will step into non-conference play after earning their first Big South series win of the year as the Highlanders host in-state rival VMI for a 6 p.m. meeting on Tuesday.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Win: Mack Krupp (1-0) (0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K)
  • Loss: Erik Dowse (2-1) (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1R/1ER, 1 BB, 2 K)
  • The win marks the first of Krupp's career.  
  • Dowse entered the contest with no earned runs in 27.1 innings pitched, leading the nation with a 0.00 ERA. After allowing the game winning run, Dowse owns a 0.31 ERA.
  • Radford's first run of the contest came on a double steal in the bottom of the third. Danny Hrbek and Chris Coia forced the Campbell infield to choose a runner as Coia slid in safely at home, giving RU an early 1-0 lead.
  • Colby Higgerson and Coia led the Highlanders with two-hit performances.
  • Mitchell MacKeith tossed a career-high 8.2 innings as the senior attempted to complete his first career nine-inning complete game. MacKeith was credited with a complete game in an 8-3 rain-shortened loss to Kent State on March 13.
  • The Campbell offense only managed one hit, before collecting three hits in the top of the ninth.
  • Radford improves to 5-5 over its last 10 games.
 
QUOTABLE
  • "Mitchell [MacKeith] pitched well enough to get the win. The pinch hitter just put a good swing on the ball in a full count situation. That's baseball. Jordan Taylor gave us that big double in an advantage count. We needed him to give us a good at bat to start the ninth. Colby [Higgerson] won the game with the big hit, but did more on the defensive side than anything. We really pitched well this weekend, which kept us in games to win. This win helps us understand that you can give up a lead and still win a baseball game. We regrouped in the dugout and found a way to get it done. ~ Radford head coach, Joe Raccuia

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