ROCK HILL, S.C. — Despite a herculean comeback attempt which saw the Highlanders score six runs in the ninth inning, the Radford baseball team fell to Winthrop 7-6 on Friday evening at The Winthrop Ballpark.
Trailing 7-0 entering the final frame, left fielder
Tanner Barrs got the Radford comeback started with a leadoff double. After two consecutive singles, center fielder
Cameron Pittman then checked in with an RBI base hit that plated two runs.
With the bases loaded, first baseman
Bradlee Preap then laced a run-scoring double to left that drove in two, making it a 7-4 ball game. Two at-bats later, catcher
Julian Rojas delivered a two-RBI single that cut the deficit to just one.
However, Winthrop's Parker Little struck out Barrs for the final out of the game, earning his first save of the year in the process.
Preap was a bright spot offensively for Radford (8-18, 2-5 Big South), as the junior went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI.
Winthrop (7-18, 2-2 Big South) struck first in the fourth inning as Jack Spyke recorded an RBI single to center field. In the sixth inning, with the Eagles ahead 4-0, Hunter Christopher broke the game open with a two-run double that extended the lead to 6-0 in favor of the home team. It was part of a five-run frame for the Eagles, who needed all of those runs to win by the slimmest of margins.
Radford starter
Gene McGough was highly effective in his outing, allowing one earned run over the course of five innings. He surrendered only one hit while fanning three Eagle hitters.
Garrett Gainey (3-1) earned the win for Winthrop, as he scattered 11 hits over eight innings and yielded just three earned runs.
NOTABLE STATS
- Radford lost the game despite out-hitting Winthrop 15-8.
- Pittman went 2-for-5 with two RBI. He was one of five Highlanders to record multiple hits.
- RHP Will Hunt pitched two scoreless innings in relief.
UP NEXT
The two teams will meet again for game two on Saturday, with first pitch slated for 2 p.m.
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