Liberty University
13-8, 0-2
Radford
11-10, 2-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| Radford | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | X | 12 | 11 | 1 |
Radford Defeats Liberty
3/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Radford Highlanders overcame an early 3-1 Liberty advantage en route to a 12-3 win over the Flames, Saturday afternoon in a Big South Conference contest at RU Baseball Stadium.
Liberty shortstop Dalton Britt gave Liberty a 3-1 lead after four innings with a two-run home run, his third of the season. However, the Highlanders tied the contest in the fifth and took a lead they did not relinquish in the sixth.
Center fielder Ashton Perritt also collected two hits, a double and a run scored for the Flames.
Liberty falls to 13-8 overall and 0-2 in Big South Conference play. Radford improves to 11-10 overall and 2-0 in conference. The Highlanders have taken the first two games of the three-game series.
Visiting Liberty plated a run in its opening at bat. Perritt led off the game by lining a double into the left field corner. After moving third on a sacrifice bunt by right fielder Will Shepherd, Perritt scored on a ground out to shortstop by catcher Alex Close for a 1-0 edge.
Radford tied the contest in the third. Center fielder Brad Keen walked to open the inning and advanced to third on a double by next batter, shortstop Chris Coia. Second baseman Josh Gardiner then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, knotting the score at 1-1.
Liberty immediately took back the lead in the top of the fourth. Designated hitter Becker Sankey walked to begin the inning and Britt followed by blasting a 2-0 offering over the right-center fence for a 3-1 advantage.
After Liberty starting pitcher Victor Cole had retired eight straight Highlanders, Radford put together a two-out rally to once again tie the game in the fifth. Coia doubled and Gardiner and left fielder Shane Johnsonbaugh both walked with two outs. Catcher Josh Reavis then singled through the left side of infield to plate two runners to even the score at 3-3.
Radford took its first lead of the contest in the sixth. Third baseman Hunter Higginson opened the home half of the inning with a walk and scored on a double to the right-center field gap by first baseman Danny Hrbek for a 4-3 advantage. Two batters later, Hrbek scored on a two-out infield single by Coia for a 5-3 lead. After a single by Gardiner put runners on the corners, Gardiner got caught in a rundown between first and second base long enough to let Coia come home before the third out to make it, 6-3 Highlanders.
In the seventh, Radford extended its lead with three runs on one hit. Two sacrifice bunts and a single by Hrbek plated runs for a 9-3 host advantage.
A three-run home run by the Highlanders' Gardiner in the bottom of the eighth made it what proved to be the final score of 12-3.
Liberty reliever Shawn Clowers drops to 5-1 on the year. The loss was the first for the left-hander in 32 career appearances dating back to April 23, 2013 in a 5-3 defeat at Maryland. Clowers gave up three runs on three hits over 1 1/3 innings. He walked one.
Radford starter Dylan Nelson evens his record at 2-2. The right-hander allowed three runs on six hits over 7 2/3 innings. He struck out six batters and walked four.
Liberty recorded six hits. Radford collected 11 hits.
The two teams will meet again tomorrow in the final game of their three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nelson,D (2-2)
L: Clowers, Shawn (5-1)
Batting:
2B: Perritt, Ashton 1
HR: Britt, Dalton 1
RBI: Close, Alex 1 ; Britt, Dalton 2
SH: Shepherd, Will 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Perritt, Ashton 1 ; Sankey, Becker 1 ; Britt, Dalton 1
HBP: Shepherd, Will 1
Batting:
2B: Hrbek,D 1 ; Coia,C 3
HR: Gardiner,J 1
RBI: Gardiner,J 4 ; Reavis,J 2 ; Higgerson,H 1 ; Scoville, A. 1 ; Hrbek,D 2 ; Coia,C 1
SH: Reavis,J 1 ; Higgerson,H 1 ; Scoville, A. 1
SF: Gardiner,J 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gardiner,J 2 ; Johnsonbaugh 1 ; Marshall, P. 1 ; Higgerson,H 2 ; Hrbek,D 1 ; Keen, B. 2 ; Coia,C 3
SB: Johnsonbaugh 1 ; Reavis,J 1
CS: Gardiner,J 1
