Highlanders Fall 5-3 to Chanticleers in BSC Baseball Tournament

Rock Hill, S.C. - Eighth-seeded Radford (17-32) could not recover from a three-run third, falling to top-seed Coastal Carolina (40-17), 5-3 in the first round of the Big South Baseball Championships.

The Highlanders will play fourth-seeded Liberty in the losers bracket tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.

In the third inning, Adam Keim put CCU on the board with a two-run double to left. He would later score with two outs on a RBI triple to right center by Brandon Powell.

Radford would cut the Coastal lead to 3-2 in the fifth. With one out, Matt Mantione's single up the middle and a catcher's interference call would put runner on first and second. Mantione would score RU's first run on Shawn Abell's RBI single to left. After a walk loaded the bases, Kellen Wohlford plated Scott Gvosdas, who reached on the interference, with a sacrifice fly to left.

The Highlanders had an opportunity to tie things up in the sixth. After a one-out double by Keith Brunst, Daryl Dougless' liner to left center looked like it was going to drop but CCU leftfielder Justin Owens laid out and made a spectacular diving catch denying RU's opportunity to tie the game. For the game, five of the seven runners left on base were stranded at second.

Coastal added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings off RU relief pitcher Dave Eddinger, pushing their lead to 5-2. In the sixth, three consecutive one-out singles, the third by Steve Pinnochio, plated Jeff Baker with what would turn out to be the game-winning run. Keim's solo home run, in the seventh gave CCU the three-run cushion.

Jerry Fulton's 11th homer of the season in the eight got Radford within two runs at 5-3. Radford had several opportunities to score as five of the seven runners they left on base were on second base.

Cory Koliscak took the loss for RU, giving up three runs on four hits in five innings of work. He struck out three and walked a pair. Eddinger finished the last three innings, allowing two runs on five hits. Fulton, Brunst and Mantione each had a pair of hits for the Highlanders.

Seamus Donovan earned the win, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits, striking out four and walking two. Keim who finished the day 2-for-3 with a double, home run, three RBI and a pair of runs, picked up his sixth save with a 1-2-3 ninth.