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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Miano-20170527
Andy Smith | Big South Conference
2
UNC Asheville AVL 25-32
7
Winner Radford RAD 26-30
UNC Asheville AVL
25-32
2
Final
7
Radford RAD
26-30
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
UNC Asheville AVL 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 6 1
Radford RAD 0 2 0 0 1 3 0 1 X 7 12 0

W: Fritz, Cameron (4-2) L: WILSON (1-2) S: Threehouse, Evan (1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

RADFORD HEADS TO SECOND TITLE GAME IN LAST THREE SEASONS



GAME INFORMATION
  • Score: No. 5 Radford 7, No. 6 UNC Asheville 2
  • Records: Highlanders (26-30) | Bulldogs (25-32)
  • Location: Lexington County Baseball Stadium | Lexington, S.C.
 
LEXINGTON, S.C. – Never doubt the heart of a Highlander, especially in the Big South Baseball Championships as Radford punched its ticket into the tournament championship game for the second time in three years as the Highlanders cruised to a 7-2 victory over sixth seeded UNC Asheville on a scorching Saturday afternoon.
 
The seven Highlander runs came on 12 hits, including four of the extra-base variety. Radford has now outhit opponents 28-16, while holding a 20-6 edge in the runs column. Radford's pitching staff has only been charged with four of the runs, while striking out 31 batters in 27 innings.
 
For the third consecutive game, Radford struck first on a two-run blast off the bat of the hometown kid Anthony Miano. The junior lifted the 1-1 pitch over the left field wall as the Highlander dugout erupted as the momentum shifted in favor of the tournament's hottest team.
 
Radford's starter Cameron Fritz turned in a career outing in the biggest game of his collegiate career as the sophomore retired the Bulldogs in order three times over a five-inning span. Fritz yielded only three hits as UNC Asheville's lone run off the righty came on a solo home run in the fifth as Kole Harris took a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence.
 
The Highlanders got the run back in the fifth as Luke Wise lined a triple down the right field, coming around to score on a Matt Roth sacrifice fly to center field.
 
Evan Threehouse came on in relief of Fritz in the sixth inning, working out of a runners on first and second base jam as the freshman forced a 5-3 double play. Roth snagged a hard-hit ground ball, tagged the third base bag and throwing a bullet to first base.
 
The bottom half of the inning saw Radford add three more runs on four hits. Spencer Horwitz led off the inning with a double down the right field line, moving to third on a Miano sac bunt. Following a Straton Podaras walk, the Highlanders first run of the frame came on a balk with runners on the corners. Podaras was later picked off at second base.
 
Radford battled back to score two more runs with two outs in the inning. Richard De la Cruz collected a single through the right side, swiping second base and moving to third on a Wise single to shortstop.
 
In typical Radford fashion, a run was manufactured on the base paths as a result of forcing the opposing team to make a quick decision. Wise took off for second, forcing a rundown between first and second, which allowed De la Cruz to break for home. UNC Asheville second baseman Chris Troost directed his focus to home as De la Cruz scored as a result of the errant throw, allowing Wise to scoot into second.
 
Wise scored his second run on the day as Kyle Butler lined a single to center field, pushing the Radford lead to 6-1.
 
Throwing a career best four innings, Threehouse punched out a season-high six batters as the freshman only made one mistake, allowing a solo home run to Tyler Serricchio in the seventh.
 
Radford's final run of the game came in the bottom of the eighth as Podaras led off with his third walk, advancing to second on a De la Cruz ground out. Wise followed with an attempted sac bunt that developed into an infield single down the third base line as the ball stayed fair. The final run came on Radford's second straight bunt as Butler put down a squeeze bunt as Podaras slid home safely.
 
The championship appearance clinching 7-2 win was set up eight Highlanders picking up a base hit and heads up base running.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Win: Cameron Fritz (4-2) (5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)
  • Loss: Danny Wilson (1-2) (5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K)
  • Save: Evan Threehouse (1) (4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K)
  • The win improves Radford to 8-8 as the No. 5 seed and 1-3 against UNC Asheville in the tournament.
  • The Highlanders are now 9-2 in its last three conference tournaments.
  • Radford improves to 23-36 all-time in the conference tournament and 16-16 under head coach Joe Raccuia.
  • The Highlanders are now 18-11 when scoring first and 10-5 when scoring six-plus runs.
  • Luke Wise led the Highlanders with a 3 for 3 performance with two runs scored.
  • Joining Wise with multi-hit showings were Jonathan Gonzalez and Spencer Horwitz at two hits each.
  • Horwitz is now 5 for 11 with three runs scored in the tournament.
  • Kyle Butler and Anthony Miano had two RBIs each.
  • Matt Roth and Butler led the Highlanders with four RBIs each in the tournament.
  • Radford swiped four bases on the base, improving them to 77 for 113 on the season.
  • The Highlanders have only used one reliever in each of their first three tournament games.
  • Radford's tournament ERA stands at 1.33 as five pitchers have struck out five or more batters.
 
QUOTABLE
  • "I really enjoy being around these guys. They're a young team, which has come with ups and downs. The way they have played in the last week, they deserve to be in the championship game. We have won three straight games in three straight days. We pitched really well again as [Cameron] Fritz and [Evan] Threehouse were outstanding. Our execution was off the charts. We have one more to go." ~ Radford head coach Joe Raccuia
 
ON DECK
  • Radford will take on the winner of No. 1 Winthrop and No. 3 Presbyterian on Sunday in the winner take all championship game.
  • The game time to be determined as the two teams could play a seven-inning contest Sunday morning at 10 a.m. if Winthrop was to beat Presbyterian Saturday night.  
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