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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Butler-20180212
Jeff Sochko
6
LWU LWU 9-29
11
Winner Radford RAD 19-19
LWU LWU
9-29
6
Final
11
Radford RAD
19-19
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
LWU LWU 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 6 10 5
Radford RAD 0 1 0 4 1 0 5 0 X 11 15 0

W: Nardi, Andrew (3-1) L: MORGAN, Tyler (2-6)

4
LWU LWU 9-30
5
Winner Radford RAD 20-19
LWU LWU
9-30
4
Final
5
Radford RAD
20-19
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
LWU LWU 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 4 8 1
Radford RAD 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 5 8 1

W: Fritz, Cameron (4-1) L: GREGORY, John (2-3)

Game Recap: Baseball |

HIGHLANDERS SWEEP LONGWOOD WITH TWO VICTORIES ON SATURDAY

Radford, Va. – The Radford baseball team completed a three-game Big South sweep of Longwood after coming up with two wins against the Lancers on Saturday morning and afternoon. The Highlanders cruised to an 11-6 victory in the opener and pulled off a 5-4 comeback win in the nightcap.

Second baseman Kyle Butler went 5-for-5 (walk) and drove in three runs in the first game to support starter Andrew Nardi, who improved to 3-1 after allowing just an unearned run over five innings in his second start of the season.  Catcher Will Harless drove in three runs and center fielder Garrett Matheny scored three times. Right-handed reliever Bruce Hudson continued to dominate as he pitched three more scoreless innings to bring his total up to 19.2 straight innings without yielding an earned run.

Butler, who went 10-for-15 in the series, drew a bases-loaded walk to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage in the second inning.  

Radford (20-19, 12-6 Big South) scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to grab a 5-0 lead. Designated hitter J.D. Mundy had an RBI single and Harless added a two-run single to highlight the frame.

First baseman Jacob Mitchell homered off Nardi in the top of the fifth, but the Highlanders got the run back after Butler delivered a run scoring single to right field.

The hosts put the game out of reach in the bottom of the seventh inning as they scored five runs on four hits and were aided by three Longwood errors.  Shortstop Colby Higgerson scored on an error by pitcher Jon Peterson after Matheny put down a bunt single. Butler recorded an RBI double, right fielder Andrew Szamski was credited with an RBI after reaching base on an error by the Lancers' shortstop Antwaun Tucker and a Harless fly ball to left produced a pair of runs after Michael Peterson muffed the catch.

The visitors scored five runs in the ninth on four hits off relievers Colin Reid and Cody Boone but it wasn't enough.

Radford recorded a come-from-behind victory in the second game as they trailed 4-2 entering the eighth inning.

Szamski (3-for-5) hit his team-leading eighth homer of the season and third baseman Matt Roth went 2-for-3.  Starter Brandon Donovan was terrific in his second start of the season, allowing no runs and just four hits over five innings. The right-hander fanned three and walked just one batter.

The hosts took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third as first baseman Spencer Horwitz delivered an RBI sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Butler who had tripled with one out. Szamski followed up by lofting a solo homer to right center.

The Lancers cut the lead in half in the top of the seventh as Mitchell took Highlander reliever Austin Gerber ( 2.0 innings, one run) deep over the left field fence.

Longwood (9-30, 4-14 Big South) went ahead in the top of the eighth as they scored three runs against reliever Cameron Fritz. Fritz allowed a one-out walk to left fielder Grant Keller and then yielded a single to catcher Carlos Garrido, putting runners on the corners. Tucker followed by blasting a three-run homer to right field to give the Lancers a 4-2 advantage.

The Highlanders cut the deficit to 4-3 with a run on a hit and an error in the bottom of the eighth. Radford had runners on first and third with two outs after Roth reached on a fielder's choice. The hosts then executed a double-steal after Lancer pitcher John Gregory tried to pick off Roth at first. The visitors tried to nab catcher Straton Podaras at the plate after Roth was caught in a run down, however, the throw was too late.

Radford pulled out the win in the bottom of the ninth inning with a two-out rally. Horwitz ignited the comeback with a two-strike single to right field. Szamski followed with a sharp single to center to move Horwitz over to third. Szamski then advanced to second on a wild pitch with Mundy at the plate. Mundy drew a walk to load the bases, setting the stage for Podaras. The junior hit a two-strike slow roller to third baseman Nate Blakeney, who threw the ball wildly past Mitchell at first. Szamski and Horwitz raced home with the tying and winning runs on the error.

Fritz (4-1) picked up the win despite allowing three runs in two innings.

Radford will travel to Appalachian State on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. and will host Virginia Tech on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.
 
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