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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Hrbek-20170509
Radford Athletics Communications
5
Radford RAD 20-26
8
Winner ETSU ETSU 22-25
Radford RAD
20-26
5
Final
8
ETSU ETSU
22-25
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Radford RAD 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 1 5 11 0
ETSU ETSU 0 1 0 0 0 0 6 1 X 8 11 1

W: Daniel Sweeney (1-0) L: Threehouse, Evan (2-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

HRBEK TIES PROGRAM RECORD FOR CAREER TRIPLES IN LOSS



GAME INFORMATION
  • Score: ETSU 8, Radford 5
  • Records: Buccaneers (22-25) | Highlanders (20-26)
  • Location: Thomas Stadium | Johnson City, Tenn.
 
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Led by a three-hit and two-RBI effort from Danny Hrbek, Radford was unable to overcome a six-run seventh inning as ETSU evened the season series with an 8-5 victory, Tuesday night inside Thomas Stadium.
 
The Highlanders have not won a road game at ETSU since April 1, 2013. The win improves the Buccaneers to 25-19 all-time in the series.
 
Radford finished with 11 hits in the loss as Kyle Butler joined Hrbek with a three-hit effort, leading the way as three Highlanders finished with multi-hit performances.
 
Hrbek's final hit of the night came in the top of the ninth on a RBI triple, giving the senior 14 in his career, which matches the program record set by Kellen Wohlford in 2005.  
 
Making his second career start and first midweek start, Cameron Fritz tossed four strong innings of two-hit and one-run baseball. In the four innings, Fritz matched a career-high four strikeouts as his only blemish of the day came on a second inning two-out solo home run to center off the bat of Cullen Smith.
 
Radford collected three hits through the first four frames, but could not muster a run, twice putting a runner on second base.
 
In the top of the fifth, Straton Podaras led off the frame with a walk for the Highlanders' fifth base runner. Following a Richard De la Cruz first pitch fly out to center field, Luke Wise earned a nine-pitch walk.
 
In the Wise at bat, Radford put on several hit-and-run calls as Wise kept fouling off Dillion Cate pitches. On ball four, Podaras took off for second base on the pitch. Jackson Greer threw the ball to second base as the ball skipped away from an unexpected Chris Cook, allowing a heads up play by Podaras to scoot into third base.
 
With Adam Whitacre at the plate and runners on the corners, Radford put the play on for Wise to steal second in hopes for another Greer throw. The Buccaneers' freshman backstop obliged and Podaras trotted home to knot the contest at one as Wise collected his 10th stolen base.
 
Picking up where Fritz left off, Evan Threehouse came on to throw 2.1 innings of one-hit baseball. Threehouse tossed two perfect frames, before allowing a leadoff single in the seventh.
 
Colin Reid came on after a Threehouse strikeout to face left-handed batting Blake Rowlett. ETSU proceeded to score five straight runs on five hits as Reid failed to record an out. Austin Gerber came out of the Highlander bullpen to record two outs, but not before the Bucs scored their sixth run of the frame on a sacrifice fly. ETSU took a commanding 7-1 lead on a seven-hit inning.
 
Radford battled back with a five-hit eighth inning. Whitacre led off the inning with a single to right field and Kyle Butler followed with another single to right. Butler moved to second on the throw to third base.
 
Inching closer to 200 career hits, Danny Hrbek's 195th career hit scored Whitacre easily. Jonathan Gonzalez followed with another single to right field as the fly ball was lost in the lights by Aaron Maher, plating Butler for the second run of the inning.
 
Following a Spencer Horwitz line out, Matt Roth tested Maher again with a fly ball to right field. Maher did not see the ball again as the Highlanders loaded the bases. Podaras sent the fifth ball of the inning to right field as Maher made the catch in foul territory, allowing Hrbek to score from third on the sacrifice fly.
 
The three-run frame allowed Radford to inch within 7-4 off the Buccaneers. ETSU answered the three-run inning with a Rowlett leadoff home run to center field.
 
Butler kept the ninth inning alive for the Highlanders with a two-out single to left field for his third hit of the game, scoring on Hrbek's 196th career hit as Radford's comeback fell short 8-5.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Win: Daniel Sweeney (1-0) (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K)
  • Loss: Evan Threehouse (2-1) (2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K)
  • Sophomore third baseman Matt Roth made his collegiate pitching debut, allowing only one hit 0.2 innings.
  • For the seventh time on the season, Radford's pitching staff combined for no walks.
  • Radford had four two-out hits in the loss, but was 6 for 17 with runners on base.
  • The Highlanders finished 3 for 9 with runners in scoring position.
  • ETSU finished 4 for 7 with runners in scoring position.
  • Danny Hrbek's three-hit game is his fourth on the season and 13th multi-hit game.
  • Hrbek's two-RBI performance is only his fifth multi-RBI game on the season with two coming against ETSU.
  • In the two games, Hrbek finished with six RBIs.
  • In his career, Hrbek is four hits away from 200 and 10 RBIs away from 100.
  • Kyle Butler also picked up his fourth three-hit game, while improving his team leading 18th multi-hit game.
  • Finishing with two hits, Spencer Horwitz now has 16 multi-hit games on the season.
  • Radford batters only punched out twice on the day, matching a season low set on March 10.
  • ETSU finished with four players collecting two hits each as the Bucs five through nine hitters combine for nine of their 11 hits.
  • Radford falls to 7-4 when committing zero errors and 3-7 in night games.

ON DECK
  • Radford hosts Wake Forest in its final non-conference matchup on Wednesday to start a seven-game homestand to conclude the season.
  • The Demon Deacons collected an 18-7 win on March 5.
  • Wake Forest leads the all-time series 7-2.
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