Highlanders Bow Out of BSC Tournament with a 4-1 Loss to Liberty

Rock Hill, S.C. - Eighth-seeded Radford dropped a 4-1 decision to fifth-seeded Liberty in the first elimination game on the Big South baseball Tournament. The Highlanders end their 2002 campaign at 18-33, while the Flames improve to 30-23. (Box Score)

Alex Dooley (8-4) kept the Highlanders off the board for most of the game as he allowed a run on eight hits in eight and third innings. He struck out two and walk a pair. Justin Tubb (2-9) suffered the loss, allowing two runs on seven hits in six and a third innings. He struck out four and walked three.

Liberty grabbed the early lead when Keith Butler put Justin Tubb's second pitch of the game over the left centerfield fence for a 1-0 lead.

In the third, RU loaded the bases with one out, but the Flames got out the inning unscathed on a first-pitch 6-4-3 double play by Mark Fleischer. Matt Hagen added to the LU lead with a two-out solo shot to left, putting the Flames up 2-0 in the fourth.

Liberty looked to extend their lead in the seventh putting runner on second and third with one out. Fleicsher relieved Tubb and was able to induce a popup and flyout to end the threat.

The Highlanders finally got to Dooley for a run in the seventh on a RBI single by Matt Mantione. Daryl Dougless led off with a bunt single. That was RU's first base runner since the third after Dooley had retired 10 straight batters. He moved to third on heads up base running after a sac bunt. Mantione followed with a single through the left side, cutting the lead to 2-1.

Radford threatened in the eighth with back-to-back leadoff singles, but Fleicsher grounded into a first pitch 6-4 double play. After a walk put runners on the corners, Douglass flied out to right on the first pitch he saw.

The Flames gave Dooley some breathing room in the ninth with a pair of runs to increase their lead to 4-1. Their first came on a wild pitch and the second on a two-out first and third double steal.