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Radford University Athletics

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SeniorDay-20160520
3
UNC Asheville AVL 16-38
7
Winner Radford RAD 17-37
UNC Asheville AVL
16-38
3
Final
7
Radford RAD
17-37
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
UNC Asheville AVL 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3 6 1
Radford RAD 0 0 4 2 0 0 0 1 X 7 11 0

W: Swarmer, Tyler (4-5) L: SPRACKLIN, Adam (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

RADFORD EARNS FIRST SERIES SWEEP IN 7-3 SENIOR DAY WIN OVER UNC ASHEVILLE



GAME INFORMATION
  • Radford 7, UNC Asheville 3
  • Records: Radford (18-37, 9-15) | UNC Asheville (16-38, 5-19)
  • Location: RU Baseball Stadium | Radford, Va.
                                      
RADFORD, Va. – Nygeal Andrews finished off his last home game in style with his first career home run, a two-run third inning blast as Radford collected their first sweep of the season in a 7-3 Big South matinee over UNC Asheville, Friday afternoon. Andrews joined eight additional Highlanders in playing their last game at RU Baseball Stadium.
 
Tyler Swarmer made the most of his final home start, firing on all cylinders as the left-hander retired the Bulldogs in order for the first three innings. Swarmer punched out four batters in his three-inning tune-up before next week's Big South Tournament.
 
Following Swarmer's lights out showing, Radford's bats started to heat up in the bottom of the third. Colby Higgerson led off the inning with a bunt single and Danny Hrbek followed with his second consecutive hit by pitch.
 
With runners on first and second, Shane Johnsonbaugh singled to right field, plating Higgerson as the runners moved up into scoring position on the throw home. Hrbek scored easily from third on a Jonathan Gonzalez RBI groundout.
 
Already with a 2-0 lead, Nygeal Andrews ballooned the lead, turning on a 1-0 fastball for a two-run home run over the left field wall. The no-doubter gave Andrews his first career home run and the Highlanders a 4-0 lead.
 
UNC Asheville got a run back in the fourth as Pete Guy met new RU pitcher Ryan Sande with a first pitch home run to left-center, cutting the deficit to 4-1. Sande settled down, getting out of the inning on a 5-4-3 double play and a strikeout.
 
The bottom half of the fourth saw the Highlanders load the bases on a Chris Coia infield single, Higgerson walk and Hrbek single through the right side. RU received two more runs as Johnsonbaugh collected his second RBI on a fielders' choice and Gonzalez lifted a sacrifice fly to right for his second RBI.
 
Radford's bullpen shut down UNC Asheville over the next four frames, allowing only two hits.
 
The Bulldogs cut the Highlander lead to 6-3 on a two-run double off the bat of Guy, giving him three RBIs on the day.
 
Higgerson collected his third hit of the contest on a RBI triple in the bottom of the eighth as Radford cruised to a 7-3 series sweeping victory.
 
The Big South Tournament is on tap for the Highlanders as they defend their 2015 championship. Radford will meet No. 1 Coastal Carolina on Tuesday in the 4:30 p.m. game. For more information on the conference tournament, click here.  
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Win: Tyler Swarmer (4-5) (3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K)
  • Loss: Adam Spracklin (0-1) (1.0 IP, 4 H, 4R/4ER, 0 BB, 1 K)
  • Radford honored nine seniors in a pregame ceremony as Travis McQueen, Nygeal Andrews, Jordan Taylor, Tyler Swarmer, Dylan Nelson, Daniel Bridgeman, Mitchell MacKeith, Chris Coia and Shane Johnsonbaugh played their final home game in a Highlander uniform.
  • Swarmer picks up his fourth win in the all staff day, the win sets a career high for the lefty.
  • Daniel Bridgeman allowed only one hit in two innings of relief, striking out two in his final home game.
  • Colby Higgerson finished with his third three-hit performance of the season.
  • Higgerson extends his hitting streak to seven games, a season-high.
  • Nygeal Andrews and Luke Wise joined Higgerson in the multi-hit category, finishing with two hits each.
  • Shane Johnsonbaugh, Jonathan Gonzalez and Andrews collected two RBIs each.
  • The multi-RBI game is the 20th in Johnsonbaugh's career.
  • Gonzalez has driven in five of his 19 RBIs in the last four games.
  • Radford finished the series 10 for 10 in stolen bases.
  • Wise collected four of his seven steals in the series.
  • Pete Guy broke a 0 for 8 streak in the series with a two-hit, three-RBI effort.
 
QUOTABLE
  • "It was nice to finish off the series and regular season with a sweep. I'm happy for the seniors to get a win in their last home game. We played clean baseball today and let's hope that continues into next week's Big South Tournament. Nygeal Andrews has been swinging the bat well and received some opportunities today, which he made the most of. ~ Radford head coach, Joe Raccuia

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