Radford Drops Doubleheader To Panthers

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--Birmingham-Southern sophomore Scott Billak drilled a two-out grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning of game two, propelling Birmingham-Southern to a Big South doubleheader sweep over Radford Saturday at Scrushy-Striplin Field.(Game One Box Score)(Game Two Box Score)

After winning the first game of the series Friday night, RU dropped both of Saturday's contests, losing 8-7 in game one and 5-2 in game two.

Senior first baseman Connor Robertson reached another milestone, becoming BSC's all-time RBI leader with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning of game one.

The Panthers improve to 34-12 overall, 16-2 in the Big South. Radford fell to 20-21, 11-7 in Conference.

Trailing 2-1 entering the sixth inning of the seven-inning contest, Adam Tucker singled with one out. After Jonathan Sanford flew out, Michael Wydner singled and pinch-hitter Jared Walker was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Billak then drilled the first pitch from RU starter Tom Graham just over the left field wall for his first home run of the season.

BSC starter Wes Letson (8-2) scattered five hits over seven innings for his team-best eighth win of the season.

Radford took a 1-0 lead in the first as Jesse Ross singled, was sacrificed to second and scored on a single by Mark Fleisher.

Senior 1B/RHP Connor Robertson became the all-time BSC RBI leader and notched his eighth save of the season in BSC's doubleheader sweep or Radford.

BSC tied it in the fourth as Tucker doubled with two outs and raced home on a single by Sanford.

The Highlanders regained the lead in the fifth as Ryan Ives singled and came around to score two batters later on an infield single by Ross.

Graham (1-2) took the loss, giving up five run on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.

BSC out-hit the Highlanders 10-5. Tucker, Sanford and Wydner had two hits apiece to lead the Panthers. Ross had a pair of hits for RU.

In game one, BSC rallied from a 5-3 deficit with a five-run seventh inning, highlighted by Ryan Griffith's go-ahead two-run single.

Alan Ashworth's two-run single in the eighth cut the lead to one at 8-7, but Robertson shut the door on the Highlanders' comeback attempt by striking out three in two innings for his eighth save of the season. Robertson is now one save away from tying the regular season school record of nine saves held by three players.

Radford jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a run in the first and two in the second. Ashworth doubled and scored on a triple by Stuart Ritchie for the game's first run. Ross added a two-run double in the second.

BSC broke through in the fourth when Robertson singled and scored on a single by Matt Barber, who extended his hitting streak to 13 games. The Panthers tied it up with a pair of runs in the fifth. Jared Walker singled in Wydner, who had walked, and Robertson's record-setting sac fly brought in Michael Cline, who had singled.

RU added single runs in the sixth and seventh to take a 5-3 lead. Kellen Wohlford had a leadoff single in the sixth, stole second and third and scored on a single by Ryan Mantione. The Highlanders took advantage of the lone Panther error in the game as Dean Altavilla scored with two outs on a fielding error by Barber.

The Panthers' seventh-inning rally started by plating a run with three consecutive singles by Wydner, Matt Bogue and Cline. An RBI groundout by Walker tied the game at five. After a walk to Robertson chased RU starter Justin Tubb, Robertson stole second to give the Panthers runners at second and third. Griffith then laced a 1-2 pitch from reliever Cory Koliscak to center field, scoring Cline and Robertson and putting BSC on top 7-5. Griffith then stole second and scored on a throwing error by Ashworth, who threw wildly to first trying to complete a double play.

BSC starter Josh Britnell went 6 2/3 innings, giving up five runs, four earned, on nine hits with five strikeouts but did not get a decision. Ronny Woods, who followed Britnell to the mound to get the final out in the seventh, was the recipient of five-run seventh and improved to 2-0 on the year.

Tubb fell to 4-6, allowing seven runs on eight hits with two strikeouts and four walks in 6 1/3 innings.

Radford will be off this week for final exams. The Highlanders play next on May 11 in a make-up game at Virginia Tech at 7:00 pm. BSC concludes its five-game homestand by hosting cross-town rival UAB Tuesday at 6 p.m.