SZAMSKI'S 2-RUN WALK OFF SINGLE IN NINTH GIVES RADFORD A 5-4 WIN OVER WINTHROP

Friday, March 29

RADFORD

6 p.m.

Radford University

12-13, 0

Winthrop

14-11, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Winthrop	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	2	4	8	0
Radford	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	5	7	2

SZAMSKI'S 2-RUN WALK OFF SINGLE IN NINTH GIVES RADFORD A 5-4 WIN OVER WINTHROP

3/29/2019 10:11:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Radford, Va. – Radford right fielder Andrew Szamski hit a walk-off two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Highlanders a 5-4 victory against Big South leader Winthrop, on Friday night at Carter Memorial Stadium. Radford has won six straight contests and improved to 5-2 in the league while the Eagles fell to 6-1.

Szamski went 3-for-5 with two RBI and second baseman David Bryant was 1-for-3 with 2 RBI. Center fielder Kyle Butler went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, including his fourth homer of the season.

Radford (12-13) trailed 4-3 entering their final at bat after the visitors scored two runs in the top of the ninth to take the lead off reliever Cameron Fritz.

Colby Higgerson started the rally with a lead-off walk, his third of the game, off reliever Colten Rendon. Pinch hitter Jimmy Goldsmith then struck out swinging as Higgerson swiped second base. Kyle Butler then singled to center field to advance Higgerson to third base. First baseman Spencer Horwitz drew a walk to load the bases after Butler stole second. Szamski then came through in the clutch as he hit a sharp ground ball that deflected off the glove of Winthrop shortstop Tyler Baker into short left field. Higgerson and Butler raced around with the tying and game-winning runs.

Zack Ridgely was in line for the victory as he allowed just two earned runs over seven sharp innings. The left-hander allowed just four hits, walked none and fanned five batters.

Winthrop (14-11) scored their first run in the ninth on a wild throw by Cameron Fritz after a sacrifice bunt and then took the lead on a sacrifice fly.

Radford scored two runs in the bottom of the second to get on the board first with a two-out rally. Third baseman Matt Roth walked and Higgerson followed with a bunt single. Bryant followed with a booming double to right field to plate both runners.

The Eagles got a run back with two hits off Ridgely in the top of the fifth. Left fielder Matthew Mulkey delivered an RBI single to plate right fielder Hunter Lipscomb, who had doubled.

Butler got the run back with a long drive over the left field fence in the bottom of the frame.

The visitors closed within 3-2 on a home run by Spencer Yankle in the seventh to set-up the dramatic ninth inning.

Fritz improved to 3-1 despite allowing two runs on four hits in two innings of work.

Game two will be on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.