Baseball Falls to Bulldogs, Sets Up Rubber Match on Senior Day

Saturday, May 9

Radford, Va.

4:00 PM

Radford University

23-22, 10-10

UNC Asheville

19-32, 7-13

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
UNC Asheville	1	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	4	10	2
Radford	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	6	1

Photo by: Matthew Maldonado

Baseball Falls to Bulldogs, Sets Up Rubber Match on Senior Day

5/9/2026 7:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

RADFORD, Va. – The Radford Highlanders baseball team was unable to come up with a late rally, falling 4-2 to UNC Asheville on Saturday afternoon at Carter Memorial Stadium. The Bulldogs managed to even the series, setting up a series-deciding contest on Senior Day Sunday.

Just like Friday, the Bulldogs scored first, stringing together four singles to take a 1-0 lead. Radford starter Matthew Lefevers limited the damage, getting a strikeout and flyout to leave the bases full of Bulldogs. Brady Powell got the Highlanders back in the game in the bottom of the second, coming through with a one-out double to plate Devin Parks to even things at 1-1.

Lefevers battled back after the tough first, getting plenty of weak contact to keep it tied through five. He managed to strand a runner in scoring position in the fifth, finishing his day with one walk and one strikeout on 69 pitches.

The Highlanders capitalized on multiple miscues by UNC Asheville shortstop Logan Lowe to take the lead in the fifth. Alex Levesque led off the inning with a single, then moved to second and then third with two outs. Hunter Keen reached on Lowe's second error of the inning which allowed Levesque to score from third.

Unfortunately for Radford, UNC Asheville came ready to respond in the sixth. Their first two hitters got on base with Mason Self on the mound. The right-hander was unable to record an out, leaving abruptly in the third at-bat of the inning. Trey Ludy was unable to get out of the frame unscathed, giving up three runs that made it 4-2 UNC Asheville.

Credit to UNC Asheville Cooper Smith, who followed up his Big South Starter of the Week award with another superb outing. After his team picked up the lead, the redshirt senior retired each of his final 10 batters faced through eight innings to put the Bulldogs in a spot for the win. Radford managed to get a double by Noah Toole in the ninth, but the comeback was not in the cards for the Highlanders this afternoon.

UP NEXT
It's a special Sunday contest at Carter Memorial Stadium tomorrow, with Senior Day coinciding with Mother's Day. First pitch in the final home game of the season is at 1:00 p.m., with live coverage also on ESPN+.

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