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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Whitacre-20170518
Radford Athletics Communications
1
Winthrop WU 29-22
3
Winner Radford RAD 23-28
Winthrop WU
29-22
1
Final
3
Radford RAD
23-28
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Winthrop WU 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 3 1
Radford RAD 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 X 3 4 0

W: Ridgely, Zack (6-5) L: GREEN, Reece (5-4) S: Zurak, Kyle (8)

Game Recap: Baseball |

WHITACRE SHINES; PITCHING DOMINATES IN 3-1 WIN



GAME INFORMATION
  • Score: Radford 3, Winthrop 1
  • Records: Highlanders (23-28, 11-11) | Eagles (29-22, 15-7)
  • Location: Carter Stadium | Radford, Va.
 
RADFORD, Va. – Some say pitching and defense win baseball games, the old adage held true Thursday night as Radford's pitching staff combined to hold Winthrop to three hits for a 3-1 win in the opener of the Big South regular season finale.
 
The series lid-lifter saw a combined four runs and seven hits. Winthrop's pitching staff held the Highlander lineup to four hits of its own, but could not get Adam Whitacre out as the sophomore went 3 for 3 with two runs scored and a solo home run.
 
Whitacre's solo home run came in the bottom of the third for the first hit and run of the contest as he launched a Reece Green first pitch changeup over the right field wall. Whitacre's second home run on the season came with two outs in the inning.
 
Radford starter Zack Ridgely made the most of his final tune-up for the conference tournament and to strengthen his case for Big South Pitcher of the Year. Ridgely was perfect for the first five innings of the contest, striking out four along the way. Radford's defense made several gold star plays, helping keep the perfect game bid intact.
 
Winthrop found a gold star of its own in the bottom of the fourth as Danny Hrbek launched a 0-1 pitch to deep center field. The long fly ball looked as it was going to sail out of the ballpark, but Matthew Mulkey robbed the senior of his third home run in the last five games.
 
Tyler Halstead led off the sixth with a single through the left side, skipping past a diving Hrbek. Halstead moved to second on ground out and third on a wild pitch. Ridgely fought back with two punch outs, stranding his only base runner as he finished his day with six shutout frames.
 
Green's only blemish on the day came on Whitacre's home run, but Winthrop brought on Zach Peek to start the sixth.
 
Whitacre greeted Peek with a single to left field on a seven-pitch at bat in which he fouled off four pitches. Whitacre swiped second base for his ninth steal on the season, setting up a sacrifice situation for Richard De la Cruz.
 
De la Cruz placed a sac bunt in front of the pitcher's mound, but Peek's throw to first base was wild, allowing Whitacre to score and De la Cruz to scoot into second base. Kyle Butler followed with another sac bunt, advancing De la Cruz.
 
Entering the contest with eight RBIs when a runner is on third base with less than two outs, Hrbek extended the Radford lead to 3-0 on a single to right field for his 96th career RBI.
 
Closer Kyle Zurak came on in relief of Ridgley as the Highlanders look to stretch Zurak back out for the upcoming tournament. The Eagles quickly loaded the bases on a single and back-to-back walks.
 
Winthrop cracked the scoring column as Hunter Lipscomb grounded into a fielders' choice for his team leading 43rd RBI.
 
After struggling to find the strike zone, Zurak settled into a grove as the senior punched out five batters in a stretch of seven batters, before allowing a one-out single in the ninth.
 
With two outs in the inning, Babe Thomas gave a 0-1 fastball a ride down the right field line as Whitacre came charging from the left side. Whitacre got to the spot just in time as he laid out for a diving catch to end the game, saving what may have been two runs to secure the 3-1 win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Win: Zack Ridgley (6-5) (6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K)
  • Loss: Reece Green (5-4) (5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K)
  • Save: Kyle Zurak (8) (3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K)
  • Radford just out on its fifth shutout of the season.
  • The pitching performance lowered Radford's Big South team ERA to 3.06.
  • Ridgely's performance lowered his season ERA to 3.12 and his Big South to 2.13.
  • The lefty has been a part of three of Radford's shutout contests.
  • Ridgely' six strikeouts give him 189 in his career, ranking seventh most in program history.
  • With Ridgely throwing six innings, Radford improves to 8-5 overall and 4-1 at home when a starting pitcher throws six-plus innings.
  • Winthrop struck out 11 times on the night, giving Radford its 10th game of double-digit strikeouts.
  • Moving into eighth all-time with eight career saves, Zurak has now struck out three-plus batters 10 times on the season.
  • Zurak now has 55 strikeouts in 42.2 innings on the season, finishing the game with a 1.03 ERA after allowing the lone run.
  • In conference games, Zurak has 40 strikeouts in 26.1 innings, allowing only three earned runs.
  • Radford improves to 15-10 when scoring first and 17-3 when out-hitting the opponent.  
  • The Highlanders committed no errors, improving to 9-4 when they play perfect baseball.
  • The three-hit game is the third of Adam Whitacre's career, giving him 12 multi-hit games on the season.
  • Danny Hrbek extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a sixth inning RBI single.
  • Whitacre improved his on-base streak to 16 games.
  • Anthony Miano was the lone other Highlander to reach base, earning a fifth inning walk.
  • Radford totaled two stolen bases as Hrbek and Whitacre swiped a base. Hrbek is now 10 for 15 on the season, giving him 26 career swipes.
  • The Highlanders put down two sac bunts, giving them 40 on the season.
 
QUOTABLE
  • "What a great Friday night baseball game. There was highlight reel defense, big swings put on the ball and superb pitching by both teams. It was just a fun game to watch." ~ Radford head coach Joe Raccuia
 
ON DECK
  • Radford will look to grab another important conference win on Friday as the Highlanders look to improve to their stock in next week's tournament.
  • First pitch is set for 7:02 p.m., as the contest with be broadcast on ESPN3
  • RHP Nate Pawelczyk (7-2, 2.32) vs. RHP Danny Hrbek (4-4, 5.04)
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