Baseball 5/9/2019 10:34:00 PM

RACCUIA WINS 400TH CAREER GAME IN DOMINANT FASHION

BOX SCORE Follow @RadfordBaseball

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The Radford baseball team pummeled UNC Asheville into submission on Thursday night, scoring in eight of nine innings to earn a decisive 18-3 victory at Greenwood Field.

A two-out rally in the first inning got the scoring started. Following an Andrew Szamski single, J.D. Mundy launched a two-run home run over the right field fence to put the Highlanders in front. The Bulldogs then surrendered two walks and a hit-by-pitch to set the table for Straton Podaras who delivered a two-run single.

Radford added to its lead with one run in the second inning, two runs in the third, one run in the fifth, four runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings, one run in the eighth and finally one run in the ninth. The win moves the Highlanders to 24-24 overall and 15-7 in Big South play which gives them sole possession of second place.

Senior shortstop Colby Higgerson was on fire, going 4-for-6 with two runs scored and an RBI. Mundy finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored, three RBIs and a walk while Podaras also went 3-for-4 with three RBI, one run and one walk. Szamski gave the Highlanders a third player with three or more hits on the night, going 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI.

Hitting in the leadoff spot, Kyle Butler made it five Highlanders with multi-hit efforts thanks to a 2-for-4, three RBI performance. Radford finished with 20 hits and 10 walks which ranks as the most baserunners the team has produced in a single game all year.

Not to be overshadowed, redshirt senior Zack Ridgely delivered his second straight quality start. He left the game after 6.0 innings, allowing just three runs while striking out a season-high seven batters. Brandon Feathers came on in relief and kept UNC Asheville off the board with three scoreless innings for his first career save.

400 CAREER WINS
The victory gives Joe Raccuia his 400^th career win as a head coach. He earned 58 wins at Marist College across the 2004 and 2005 seasons and has added 342 since returning to Radford – his alma mater. He recently passed Jim Toman (Liberty) to become the third-winningest coach in Big South history.

STAT OF THE GAME
The 17 runs scored represented Radford's second-highest offensive output of the season, eclipsed only by the 20 runs the Highlanders scored against Winthrop on Saturday, March 30 at Carter Williams Memorial Stadium.

STATISTICAL ANOMALY
Freshman David Bryant had an extremely unusual line in the box score on Thursday night, scoring a team-high four runs and earning two RBI without recording a single base hit. He was hit by a pitch, reached on an error and walked twice. He also added a sacrifice fly for good measure.

UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to Greenwood Field on Friday, May 10 for a doubleheader with the Bulldogs. The first game is slated for 11 a.m. and the second game will start approximately 45 minutes after the first game concludes.

FOLLOW RADFORD BASEBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on the Radford baseball team follow @RadfordBaseball on Twitter and Instagram or Radford Baseball on Facebook.

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