Shelby, N.C. – The Radford baseball team came from behind to defeat the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs, 9-7, on Friday evening at Keeter Stadium. 

Radford (22-20, 13-6 Big South) right-handed reliever Bruce Hudson improved to 4-1 as he pitched the final three innings without allowing a run. Hudson has not allowed an earned run over his last 22.2 innings of work. Starter Zack Ridgely got a no-decision after he allowed four earned runs on six hits in 3.2 innings. Ridgely, who walked four batters, threw 93 pitches in the outing.

Designated J.D. Mundy went 2-for-3 with a pair of homers and three RBI to lead Radford. Right fielder Andrew Szamski (game-winning hit) doubled and drove in three runs and shortstop Colby Higgerson and first baseman Spencer Horwitz each added a pair of hits.

The Highlanders got on the board in the top of the first as second baseman Kyle Butler reached on an error by third baseman Eric Jones and then advanced to third on a single through the right side by Horwitz. Szamski followed with an RBI groundout to score Butler.

Radford threatened again in the top of the second as Higgerson opened the frame with a bloop single to right. Third baseman Matt Roth hit a one-out ringing double down the left field corner to put runners in scoring position for center fielder Garrett Matheny, who struck out swinging. Butler was then robbed of a two-run single by center fielder Chris Clary, who came in on a line drive and made a sliding catch.

Gardner-Webb (18-20, 8-11 Big South) scored two runs on three hits in the bottom of the second off Ridgely to take their first lead. Jones singled to right to open the frame and scored on a one-out double off the left field wall by Clary. Left fielder Jake Phillips then flared a soft single off the glove of Higgerson in short left field to score Clary.

Radford got even with two outs in the top of the third as Mundy lined a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence for his eighth homer of the season.

Gardner-Webb re-claimed the lead in the bottom of the third inning with three runs to make it 5-2. Catcher Justin Kunz led off the inning with a double to left center. Ridgely followed by walking second baseman Chandler Redmond and then a hard smash up the middle by Corey Howard scored Kunz. Jones then singled to left center to load the bases. Designated hitter JP McGuire grounded a fielder's choice RBI that resulted in two more runs. Second baseman David Bryant was charged with an error as he threw the ball in the dirt on his attempt to turn a 6-4-3 double play. The throw, which Horwitz was unable to scoop, allowed Redmond to score from second.

Eric Jones hit a solo homer to left off reliever Austin Gerber in the bottom of the fifth to give the hosts a 6-2 advantage.

Radford cut the deficit to 6-4 in the top of the sixth inning. Catcher Straton Podaras led off with a bloop single to right and Higgerson followed with a booming double over right fielder Mitch McLendon's head in deep right. Pinch hitter Clayton Baine then drew a walk to load the bases, which chased Gardner-Webb starter Isaac Campbell from the game. Reliever Langdon Wilson walked Roth to plate a run and was promptly replaced by Aaron Stewart. Pinch-hitter Will Harless struck out swinging for the first out but Butler drew another bases-loaded walk for the Highlanders second run of the inning. Horwitz, however, hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the frame.

Jake Phillips hit a solo homer off Gerber just inside the left field foul pole to lead off the bottom of the sixth, making it 7-4.

The Highlanders closed within 7-6 in the top of the seventh as Szamski drew a lead-off walk and Mundy followed with his second homer of the night, another opposite field laser to left center.
 
Radford took the lead in the top of the eighth with three runs off right-handed reliever Jarrett Thompson. The Highlanders loaded the bases with just one out as left fielder Carlin Christian walked, Butler reached on a hard-hit infield single and Horwitz drew a full-count walk. Szamski then wrapped a two-run double just inside the third base bag to give the Highlanders the lead. Mundy was intentionally walked to load the bases for Podaras, who brought home an insurance run with an RBI fielder's choice to shortstop.

The Highlanders and Bulldogs will play the second game of their three-game set on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Keeter Stadium.