ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The Radford baseball team dropped a pair of contests to UNC Asheville on the road on Saturday afternoon, falling 6-5 in the resumed suspended game from Friday night, and dropping the second game 22-10.
GAME ONE
The Highlanders (9-42, 1-22 Big South) jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first two innings. The rally was started by DH
Austin Stalker, who plated
Cameron Pittman with an RBI grounder in the first inning.
Tanner Barrs then followed up with a sac fly to left field, scoring
Zack Whitacre.
Stalker also added an RBI single in the second inning. The freshman posted a hit and two RBI, extended his hitting streak to eight games and his on-base streak to 18 games.
However, UNC Asheville (23-24, 9-14) responded with five runs in the fifth inning to take the lead. The game was suspended in the bottom of the sixth inning due to rain. The Bulldogs held Radford scoreless over the final three innings to secure the win.
RHP
Jacob Flicek was a bright spot for Radford, pitching three innings in relief and allowing no earned runs. On the offensive side, third baseman
Bannon Brazell went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs, the three base hits a career-high for the freshman.
Pittman went 1-for-4 with an RBI, hitting a two-out, run-scoring double in the ninth.
Bryce Fisher was the winner for UNC Asheville, tossing 5.1 innings and allowing two runs.
Luke VonGoedert took the loss for Radford.
GAME TWO
UNC Asheville struck early and often, scoring six runs in the first inning and three in the second to take a commanding early lead.
Radford's bats never wavered, as the Highlanders saw a pair of standout performances. Highlighting the effort was Whitacre, who went 4-for-5 with four runs and four RBI, including a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning. He also added a solo home run in the seventh.
Barrs also had a banner day, going 3-for-5 with five RBI. The big blast came in the sixth inning, when the senior launched a grand slam over the right field fence, the first grand slam by a Highlander since
Ty Dooley hit one on Mar. 30, 2022. The three hits were also a career-best for Barrs.
Brazell had another solid performance, going 2-for-5 with a run.
The Bulldogs' Cole Bates earned the win, tossing two scoreless innings. Radford starter
Dylan Howard was tabbed with the loss.
UP NEXT
The two teams will get together for game three of the series in Marion, N.C. on Sunday at 11 a.m. The game will not be streamed.
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