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Radford University Athletics

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Horwitz-20170421
Radford Athletics Communications
3
Radford RAD 16-21
4
Winner Charleston So. CSU 18-20
Radford RAD
16-21
3
Final
4
Charleston So. CSU
18-20
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Radford RAD 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 6 3
Charleston So. CSU 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 4 8 0

W: SMITH, C. (2-1) L: Zurak, Kyle (3-2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

HORWITZ HITS TWO HOME RUNS; RADFORD FALLS 4-3 TO CSU



GAME INFORMATION
  • Score: Charleston Southern 4, Radford 3
  • Records: Buccaneers (18-20, 7-9) | Highlanders (16-21, 6-7 Big South)
  • Location: CSU Ballpark | North Charleston, S.C.
 
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – Despite a two-home run effort from Spencer Horwitz, Radford dropped the Big South opener to Charleston Southern 4-3 on a walk-off two-out fielding error in the bottom of the ninth, Friday night at the CSU Ballpark.
 
The game opened up with a pair of first pitch blasts to right field as Nate Blanchard led off the bottom of the first with a home run off of Radford starter Zack Ridgely, giving Charleston Southern an early 1-0 lead.
 
The lead was short lived as Horwitz took a first pitch fastball out of the hand of Buccaneer starter Nik Constantakos to deep right field, knotting the game at one.
 
Following a three up, three down frame in the third, Horwitz struck again in the top of the fourth. Jonathan Gonzalez reached base on a one-out single through the left side. The third home run of the game once again came on the first pitch as the freshman launched a two-run home run down the right field line to hand Radford a 3-1 edge.
 
After the leadoff first inning homer, Ridgely limited the Bucs to a mere three hits, collecting six strikeouts in the process. Charleston Southern pulled within one as Cole German gave the Buccaneers their second leadoff home run to right field, inching within 3-2.
 
Daniel Johnson came out of the Charleston Southern bullpen in the fifth inning and dominated Radford bats over four frames. The junior lefty yielded only two hits, while striking out five batters in relief.
 
The Buccaneers got to Ridgely in the seventh as the lefty crossed the century mark in his pitch count. Mike Sconzo led off the inning with a double to right center, while Kyle Vesnesky stepped up the plate with only one thing on his mind, a sacrifice bunt.
 
Vesnesky put down the sac bunt to third base as Matt Roth came up the bouncing bunt, but the third baseman's throw was low to a covering Kyle Butler. The errant throw allowed Sconzo to score and Vesnesky to scoot into second base.
 
Ridgely once again with his back against the wall, dug deep and got two quick outs. Kyle Zurak came out of the bullpen to strikeout Blanchard to end the seventh.
 
Ridgely was unable to cross the double-digit strikeout plateau for the second time on the season, punching out nine over 6.2 innings.
 
After the third three up, three down inning of the game by the two squads, Radford entered the final inning looking to avoid extra innings for the third time on the season.
 
Gonzalez led off the inning with a four-pitch walk. The Highlanders were unable to do anything as Horwitz struck out, while Adam Whitacre and Roth grounded into fielders' choice plays.
 
Zurak kicked off the ninth with a ground out and strikeout on seven pitches. The Buccaneers received a base runner on a ground ball to shortstop as Danny Hrbek's throw pulled Horwitz off the bag. Following the error, German singled off of Zurak's foot to put two runners on base.
 
Alex Andronica stood in the batters' box with two outs and a 1-0 count. The freshman popped up the Zurak pitch to second base. Camping under the pop up, the ball hit off the top of Butler's glove as the Buccaneers collected a 4-3 win on a walk-off error to take the series' lid-lifter.  
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Win: Cody Smith (2-1) (0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K)
  • Loss: Kyle Zurak (3-2) (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K)
  • Zack Ridgely allowed two earned runs on seven hits, walking none for the fourth time on the season.
  • The nine strikeouts give Ridgely 57 on the season and 32 in Big South play.
  • Daniel Johnson struck out five over four innings, increasing his total to 49 in 27 innings.
  • Radford pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts and Charleston Southern combined for 11.
  • Spencer Horwitz finished 2 for 3 with his first two-home run performance of his career, driving in three-plus runs for the third time on the season.
  • Horwitz joins Jonathan Gonzalez as the second Highlander with a multi-home run game on the season.
  • The two-hit game is the 11th on the season for Horwitz.
  • Danny Hrbek, Richard De la Cruz, Luke Wise and Gonzalez collected the other Highlander hits.
  • Going 0 for 4 on the day, Kyle Butler saw his 20-game on-base streak end.
  • Cole German led all players with a 3 for 4 performance.
  • The game saw two home runs each from the two squads.

ON DECK
  • The series continues on Saturday with a 4 p.m. contest.
  • RHP Danny Hrbek (2-3, 5.68 ERA) vs. RHP Tyler Weekley (3-2, 3.77 ERA)
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