DAVIDSON, N.C. – Despite a valiant comeback effort which saw the visitors load the bases with one out in the ninth, the Radford Baseball team fell just short in a 6-4 loss to Davidson on Tuesday evening at Wilson Field.

Trailing by two runs entering the final frame, the Highlanders went to work quickly in the ninth, as pinch hitter Tanner Barrs smacked a leadoff single to right. Left fielder Adam Morris was then hit by a pitch, while designated hitter Cameron Pittman drew his team-leading fifth walk of the year to load the bases. However, Davidson pitcher Gabe Levy came in and struck out the only two batters he faced, ending the Highlanders' rally.

Shortstop David Bryant had a breakout performance, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI. In the third inning, the veteran senior laced a two-bagger to center that scored Ty Dooley, cutting the Wildcats' lead to 5-2. Later in the eighth inning, Bryant hit another double, this time to left, while first baseman Bradlee Preap subsequently hit a double of his own to score his teammate and trim the deficit to 5-3.

Davidson (3-1) jumped out to a big lead early, scoring five runs in the second inning. But as has been the case several times in this young season, the Highlanders slowly but surely clawed their way back, outscoring the Wildcats 3-1 the rest of the way.

It was a staff day for Radford (1-3), as the Highlanders used six different relief pitchers following starter Alex Perkins' scoreless first inning. The bullpen collectively allowed just one earned run over the final 6.2 innings, holding a potent Davidson offense to just three hits over that stretch.

In the second inning, center fielder Dudley Taw hit the Highlanders' first home run of the season, depositing the first pitch he saw over the right field wall to give Radford a 1-0 advantage.

Will Schomberg earned the win for the Wildcats, tossing five innings of two-run ball over 79 pitches in relief.

NOTABLE STATS

• The first four hitters in the Radford lineup (Pittman, Dooley, Bryant, and Preap) combined to go 8-for-17 with a walk and two RBI.
• The Highlanders had four XBH to the Wildcats' two.
• Radford did not commit an error for the first time this year.

UP NEXT
Radford will return home to Carter Memorial Stadium for the first time this year, beginning a three-game series with Bucknell on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

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