Liberty University
13-7, 0-1
Radford
10-10, 1-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0 |
| Radford | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | X | 9 | 12 | 1 |
Radford Halts Liberty Win Streak in Big South Opener
3/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Despite the visiting Flames tying the contest twice, the Radford Highlanders defeated Liberty, 9-5, ending the Flames' seven-game winning streak, Friday, at RU Baseball Stadium. The contest was the Big South Conference opener for both teams.
The host Highlanders saw the Flames erase a 3-0 and 4-3 leads, before going in front for good in the fifth inning and halt Liberty's season-high seven game winning streak.
Flames right fielder Will Shepherd hit his first home run of the season in the contest. The sophomore also collected two hits and scored twice.
Shortstop Dalton Britt added his third three-hit game of the season and scored a run for the Flames.
Liberty falls to 0-1 in conference play and 13-7 overall. Radford moves to 1-0 in the Big South and 10-10 overall. The Highlanders have won three of the last four meetings between the teams at RU Baseball Stadium.
The Highlanders jumped out to an early advantage in the second. With two on and one out, center fielder Brad Keen doubled to plate the first run of the inning. Shortstop Chris Coia followed with a RBI grounder for a 2-0 edge. A wild pitch allowed Keen to score to give Radford a 3-0 advantage.
In the top of the third, the first three Flames to bat reached, loading the bases. Shortstop Dalton Britt and Shepherd led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Left fielder Ashton Perritt then loaded the bases by a dropping a bunt single.
After Radford starting pitcher Michael Boyle retired the next two Flames, first baseman Alex Close drew a two-out walk to force in the first run of the frame. Designated hitter Andrew Yacyk followed with a two-run single to knot the game at 3-3.
Radford answered with a run to take back the lead in the bottom of the inning. Left fielder Shane Johnsonbaugh singled to open the frame and moved to second on a ground out. Designated hitter Patrick Marshall followed with a RBI double into the right-center field gap.
Liberty tied the contest in the top of the fourth. Catcher Becker Sankey led off the inning by lining a double off the center field wall. After moving to third on a single by Britt, Sankey scored on a wild pitch to tie the contest, 4-4.
A two-out walk led to a run for Radford in the fifth. With two away, Marshall walked and advanced to third on a single by right fielder Hunter Higgerson. First baseman Danny Hrbek followed with a single off the mound and through the infield to give Radford the lead once again.
The Highlanders added a run in the sixth. Keen opened the inning with his first home run of the season for a 6-4 edge.
Shepherd cut the Liberty deficit to one in the top of the seventh. With one out, Shepherd belted a 1-1 offering over the left field fence to trim the Radford lead to 6-5.
The Highlanders counted with a home run of their own in the home half of the seventh. With a runner aboard, Hrbek lined his first round tripper over the right field wall, extending Radford's advantage to three, 8-5.
The Highlanders pushed across an insurance run in the eighth for what proved to be the final score of 9-5. A hit-and-run single by catcher Josh Reavis scored second baseman Josh Gardiner, who doubled earlier in the inning.
Liberty starting pitcher Parker Bean drops to 2-2 on the year. The right-hander gave up six runs on eight hits over six innings. The first of four Flames to pitch in the contest, he struck out four and walked three batters.
Radford starting pitcher Michael Boyle moves to 3-2.The first of three Highlanders to pitch in the game, Boyle allowed five runs on eight hits. The left-hander struck out seven batters and walked one.
Ryan Meisinger earns his fourth save of the season. He pitched the 1 1/3 innings, allowing one hit. He struck out three and did not walk a batter.
Liberty collected nine hits. Radford recorded 12. Higgerson had three hits for the Highlanders.
The two teams will meet again at RU Baseball Stadium, tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Boyle,M (3-2)
L: Bean, Parker (2-2)
S: Meisinger,R (4)
Batting:
2B: Sankey, Becker 1 ; Britt, Dalton 1
HR: Shepherd, Will 1
RBI: Close, Alex 1 ; Yacyk, Andrew 2 ; Shepherd, Will 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sankey, Becker 1 ; Britt, Dalton 1 ; Shepherd, Will 2 ; Perritt, Ashton 1
Batting:
2B: Gardiner,J 1 ; Marshall, P. 1 ; Higgerson,H 1 ; Keen, B. 1
HR: Hrbek,D 1 ; Keen, B. 1
RBI: Reavis,J 1 ; Marshall, P. 1 ; Hrbek,D 3 ; Keen, B. 2 ; Coia,C 1
SH: Johnsonbaugh 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gardiner,J 1 ; Johnsonbaugh 1 ; Marshall, P. 1 ; Higgerson,H 1 ; Hrbek,D 2 ; Scoville, A. 1 ; Keen, B. 2
HBP: Coia,C 1
PO: Coia,C 1
