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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Higgerson-20180331
Jonathan Huff (www.apertureone.net)
8
Winner Gardner-Webb GWU 16-14
4
Radford RAD 10-16
Winner
Gardner-Webb GWU
16-14
8
Final
4
Radford RAD
10-16
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Gardner-Webb GWU 2 0 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 8 11 3
Radford RAD 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 4 7 3

W: FOX, Mason (3-3) L: Ross, Austin (5-3) S: SELLERS, Wil (2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

RADFORD UNABLE TO AVOID SWEEP WITH 8-4 LOSS TO GARDNER-WEBB

GAME INFORMATION
  • Gardner-Webb 8, Radford 4
  • Records: Runnin' Bulldogs (16-14, 4-5 Big South) | Highlanders (10-16, 2-7 Big South)
  • Location: Carter Memorial Stadium | Radford, Va.
                                      
RADFORD, Va. – Gardner-Webb scored in the first inning for the third straight game and held off a Radford late comeback attempt as the Runnin' Bulldogs finished off the sweep with an 8-4 decision on Saturday afternoon.

Redshirt senior Austin Ross got the start for the Highlanders and navigated through trouble all day. After giving up a first-pitch home run to the second batter Mickey Dugan in the first, he was victim to a throwing error that allowed the Runnin' Bulldogs to plate another run in the opening frame.  

Mason Fox, who got the start for Gardner-Webb, danced out of early trouble in the first inning as the Highlanders filled the bases but couldn't get a run to cross the plate as a double play ended the frame.

After Matt Roth made a diving catch on a bunt attempt to double up a Runnin' Bulldog in the top of the second, Garrett Matheny used the momentum as he smacked his second home run of the series to cut the lead in half.   

The Runnin' Bulldogs had their biggest inning in response to the home run, plating four runs on three hits in the third. Justin Kunz's three-run round-tripper was the dagger in the inning, as the Highlanders' offense wasn't quite able to get going after that.

After some chaos in the first three innings of the game, both squad's pitchers calmed down. Mack Krupp took over for the Highlanders in the fifth inning, working 4.1 innings of practically scoreless ball. The redshirt senior yielded only three hits over the span.

Radford would be held scoreless for four innings before striking for three runs in the seventh. The Runnin' Bulldog pitching staff had some trouble finding the strike zone, allowing the Highlanders to load the bases with no outs.

Colby Higgerson took advantage, adding to an already stellar defensive day with an RBI single up the middle. Andrew Szamski would follow with a RBI ground out on a roller to the pitcher, and Luke Belanger collected his first collegiate RBI on a ground out, inching Radford within 6-4 after seven complete.
 
After pulling the lead to just two runs, a throwing error in the eighth let the Runnin' Bulldogs tack on another run. The runner, who reached first base on a dropped third strike, scored on a failed pickoff attempt to first by Krupp.

Gardner-Webb would add another run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly as Wil Sellers shut down the Highlanders with three innings of two-hit ball, striking out three batters.

Radford's two hits off Sellers came in the ninth as Higgerson led off the frame with a single through the right side and Szamski doubled off the left-center field wall.

Higgerson was held up at third and both runners would be left stranded with two Radford strikeouts on six pitches closed out the contest.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Win: Mason Fox (3-3) (5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K)
  • Loss: Austin Ross (5-3) (4.0 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K)
  • Save: Wil Sellers (2) (3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K)
  • Radford left 11 runners on base compared to Gardner-Webb's five.
  • Five Highlanders were responsible for their seven hits.
  • Colby Higgerson and Andrew Szamski finished with two hits each.
  • The two-hit day was Higgerson's seventh multi-hit game on the season, finishing the series 4 for 14 with three runs scored and two RBIs.
  • Higgerson moved his on-base streak to 10 straight.
  • Szamski extended his hitting streak to eight straight and his on-base streak to nine with his 11th multi-hit game of 2018.
  • The redshirt-junior went 5 for 11 with two RBIs and two extra-base hits in the series.
  • Kyle Butler moved his on-base streak to 12 with a single.
  • Garrett Matheny hit his third home run in the last six games, all coming as solo shots.
  • Radford's batters walked seven times and struck out only five times.
 
ON DECK
  • Radford will host two midweek games after Gardner-Webb as Appalachian State comes to town on April 3 and ETSU follows on April 4.
  • Both contests are set for a 6 p.m., first pitch.
  • The Highlanders were swept by Appalachian State in the two-game series a season ago, while splitting with ETSU.
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