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Radford University Athletics

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Radford Athletics Communications
12
Winner Radford RAD 2-0
6
North Florida UNF 0-2
Winner
Radford RAD
2-0
12
Final
6
North Florida UNF
0-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Radford RAD 2 3 1 0 0 0 2 1 3 12 14 0
North Florida UNF 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 6 11 1

W: Ross, Austin (1-0) L: Marchese, N. (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

RADFORD PICKS UP SERIES WIN AT NORTH FLORIDA; GOES FOR SWEEP SUNDAY



GAME INFORMATION
  • Score: Radford 12, North Florida 6
  • Records: Highlanders (2-0) | Ospreys (0-2)
  • Location: Harmon Stadium | Jacksonville, Fla.
                                      
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Radford scored six runs in the final three frames to secure its first opening weekend series win since 2015 as the Highlanders tallied double-digit runs for the second straight game in a 12-6 victory over North Florida
 
The Highlanders pumped out 14 hits, scoring six runs in the first three innings and the last three innings. Of Radford's 12 runs, 11 were credited as RBIs. Three different Highlanders drove in two-plus runs.
 
Andrew Szamski continued the hot start to his Radford career with a 4 for 4 day with four RBIs and four runs scored. He drove in runs on two doubles and a home run. Colby Higgerson followed with a 3 for 5 performance with two RBIs.
 
Szamski opened the game with a two-run home run to left field, plating Kyle Butler, who reached on a one-out single. The Highlanders added three more runs in the second inning on a two-run single off the bat of Adam Whitacre and Butler followed one batter later with a RBI double.
 
Radford starter Cameron Fritz worked around base runners in the first two innings as his lineup handed him a comfortable 6-0 lead, plating one more run in the third. The run came as Szamski led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third via a Higgerson double. Following Garrett Matheny reaching on a hit by pitch, Matt Roth grounded into a double play to plate Szamski.
 
The six-run lead was short lived as Alex Reynolds cut the Radford edge in half on a three-run home run in the bottom of the third with two outs.
 
Radford was only able to put a runner on second base twice over the next three innings, while North Florida exploded for three runs all coming on RBI singles in the bottom of the fourth to knot the game.
 
After the Ospreys knotted the game in the fourth, redshirt senior Austin Ross made his return to the mound, pitching for the first time since May 27, 2016. The righty allowed only three base runners, stranding two on base in the seventh as he tossed four scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
 
Ross' efforts on the bump were rewarded as Radford regained the lead in the seventh as Szamski and Higgerson struck again. This time with a RBI double for Szamski and a RBI single for Higgerson.
 
Holding an 8-6 lead, Radford added an insurance run in the eighth as Roth led off the inning with a single, moving to second base on a wild pitch and third off a Will Harless' sacrifice bunt. The Highlander run came on their second straight sac bunt as Luke Wise picked up his first RBI of the season.
 
After a three up, three down bottom of the eighth, Radford added three more runs for good measure in the ninth. It was once again Szamski and Higgerson providing the damage. Szamski finished off his four-RBI day with another RBI double and Higgerson followed with a RBI triple.
 
Radford's 12th run of the day came on a Roth sac fly to right field, completing the 12-6 offensive outburst by the top of the Highlander order.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Win: Austin Ross (1-0) (4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K)
  • Loss: Nick Marchese (0-1) (3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO)
  • Ross earned his first win since April 7, 2015, when he struck out five in 4.1 innings of relief in a 6-2 victory at VMI.
  • Radford's bullpen allowed only one run in 5.2 innings, combing for seven strikeouts.
  • Of Radford's 14 hits on the day, seven came as extra-base hits, including five doubles.
  • In the first two games of the series, Andrew Szamski is 7 for 9 with seven runs scored and six RBIs.
  • Three of Szamski's four hits on the day were of the extra-base variety.
  • Colby Higgerson's three-hit day is the fifth of his career.
  • Through the first two games, Higgerson is 4 for 9 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
  • Kyle Butler followed up his three-hit day with a two-hit day, going 2 for 5 at the plate.
  • A day after he scored three runs, Spencer Horwitz crossed the plate two more times.
  • Eight different Highlanders collected a hit on the day.
  • Radford punched out 13 times on Opening Day, cutting that mark in half with only seven in game two.
  • The Highlanders also improve to 13-18 in games played on opening weekend under Raccuia.
  • Radford is now 7-8 against the Sunshine State.
 
QUOTABLE
  • "Really liked the way we played today. We had a bunch of quality at bats and were much more patient, which put us in really good counts. We were really clean defensively and on the mound, we had some solid innings attacking the zone. It's important for a young team to be able to show that they can bounce back after giving up a lead." ~ Radford head coach Joe Raccuia
 
UP NEXT
  • Radford goes for its first non-conference series sweep since 2016 at USC Upstate on Sunday. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
  • Probable Pitchers: LHP Mack Krupp vs. TBA
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