RADFORD, Va. (April 8, 2008) - A season high in hits, doubles, total bases and at-bats carried the Bucs as they pounded Radford at Dedmon Center Park Tuesday afternoon in Radford, Va., 17-8.

ETSU (7-24, 6-12) had a season high 26 hits as they pounded out six doubles, a triple and two home runs. The Buc pitchers also did a great job holding the Highlanders to 10 hits and only walked three batters. Head coach Tony Skole earned his 298^th career victory in the win.

In the bottom of the first, Paul Hoilman (Johnson City, Tenn.) drove a ball to center that was misplayed by Steven Ellis as Troy Mendez (Roswell, Ga.) easily scored on the Radford error to give the Bucs a 1-0 lead. Danny Petro singled in Hoilman in the next at bat to make the score 2-0.

Radford answered in the bottom of the first as Reggie Keen hit an RBI single down the left field line to cut the Buc lead to 2-1. The Highlanders tied the game as Keen came in to score on a Bo Burton (Kingsport, Tenn.) balk. In the same inning Radford took a 4-2 lead on a Buc error and a Nachion Moore RBI double to left center.

The Bucs tied things up in the top of the second as Mendez doubled down the right field line driving in Jacob Fabry (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Nick Belcher (Abingdon, Va.).

The Highlanders took the lead again in the bottom of the second as Radford scored four runs on a RBI single down the left field line by Alex Gregory and a three-run home run to right center by Raphael Turner to make the score 8-4.

In the top of the third, Fabry tripled to left center driving in Bart Roark (Mountain City, Tenn.) and Danny Petro (Atlanta, Ga.), cutting the Highlander lead to 8-6. In the next at bat, Belcher singled to left bringing Fabry to make the score 8-7.

In the fourth inning, Hoilman had an infield single as he extended his hitting streak to 12 games. Roark tied up the game in the same inning as he drove a ball over the fence in right making the score 8-8.

Belcher doubled down the left field line in the fifth inning as Fabry would come around to score his third run of the game to give the Bucs a 9-8 lead.

Ben Allen (Kingsport, Tenn.) added another run in the sixth inning as he singled in Hoilman to make the score 10-8. Anthony Russell (Waldorf, Md.) got into the action in the seventh inning as he drove in Belcher on a single to left, giving the Bucs a 11-8 lead.

Derek Trent (Kingsport, Tenn.) drove a pitch to the opposite field as it just cleared the fence in left for a three-run home run to extend the Buc lead to 14-8 in the top of the eighth. In the same inning, Belcher drove in Fabry to push the lead to 15-8.

In the top of the ninth, the Bucs added two more runs as Trent drove in Roark on a sacrifice fly to left field and Chris Rankhorn (Gallatin, Tenn.) came in to score on a wild pitch to make the final 17-8.

Darren Caldwell (Spartanburg, S.C.) and Matt McGahey (Jonesborough, Tenn.) pitched great in relief as Caldwell went two scoreless innings allowing two hits and walked one, while McGahey had an incredible outing as he pitched 5.2 scoreless innings as he surrendered only one hit and struck out six.

Belcher's 6-for-7 performance tied a school record as he was hot at the plate. The Bucs also had strong performances from Roark and Fabry who both went 4-for-5 as Fabry scored a career high four runs in the game.

The Bucs are back tomorrow at Cardinal Park when they host in-state rival Tennessee. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.

ETSU 17, Radford 8 (April 8, 2008 at Radford, Va.)
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ETSU........223  111  142   -  17  26  2   (7-24, 6-12 A-Sun)

RU........... 440  000  000   -  8  10  2    (15-15, 2-4 Big South)

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Pitchers: ETSU - Bo Burton; Darren Caldwell (2); Matt McGahey (4)
RU - Kyle Starr; Cassidy McDaniel (4); T.J. Woody (8)

Win - Matt McGahey (1-1) Loss - Cassidy McDaniel (1-3)

HR - ETSU - Bart Roark (3); Derek Trent (7)

RU - Raphael Turner (4)