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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Collin Williams
7
Radford RAD 2-7
9
Winner NC State ST 9-0
Radford RAD
2-7
7
Final
9
NC State ST
9-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Radford RAD 3 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 7 10 0
NC State ST 0 0 1 0 1 0 7 0 X 9 8 0

W: Highfill (2-0) L: Rouse, Scott (1-2) S: Lawson (2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Valiant Effort Comes up Short as Baseball Falls to No. 21 NC State

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Radford baseball team led for a majority of the contest, but a seventh-inning rally spoiled an upset bid as the Highlanders fell to No. 21 NC State by a 9-7 final at Dale Park on Wednesday afternoon.

The Highlanders (2-7) got on the board early, scoring three runs in the first inning. After the first three batters of the inning reached base, designated hitter Julian Rojas drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in Zack Whitacre and put the visitors ahead. Consecutive RBI groundouts from left fielder Peyton Henry and right fielder Paul Moore extended the Radford lead to 3-0 before NC State was able to throw a punch.

Later in the fourth inning, with the bases once again full of Highlanders, freshman Sully Tibbs checked in with a two-run single to left center. It was the second straight multi-RBI game for Tibbs, who also drove in a pair against No. 11 Virginia Tech on Tuesday. The second baseman went 2-for-4 on the afternoon.

Radford starter Collin Williams pitched admirably against a vaunted Wolfpack lineup, going 2.1 innings and allowing one earned run. In his first collegiate start, Williams struck out two hitters.

NC State (9-0) had the response in the seventh. After an RBI single by Henry extended the visitors' lead to 7-2, the Wolfpack struck for seven runs on three hits in the bottom half of the frame, taking advantage of a Highlanders' bullpen that was pitching against a ranked ACC foe for the second straight day.

Radford tried to muster a rally in the eighth, getting two runners on with two outs, but a strikeout ended the threat.

Sam Highfill was the winning pitcher for the Wolfpack, while Scott Rouse took the loss for Radford. The Highlanders saw another solid relief outing from Ty Burton, who made his nation-leading eighth appearance of the season, allowing no runs across 1.2 innings and inducing a key double-play in the third to end a bases-loaded threat.

KEY STATS
  • Catcher Garrett Pancione went 2-for-5. The freshman continues to pace the Highlanders in batting average at .417.
  • Against an NC State pitching staff that came in ranked 2nd nationally in ERA, Radford struck for 10 hits, and the seven runs scored were the most given up by the Pack this season.
  • Eight of Radford's nine starters recorded either a run or an RBI.
UP NEXT
Radford will have a much-needed off-day before regrouping to play a three-game home series against Hartford this weekend. Friday's first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

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