Tuesday, April 05, 2005

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Apr. 5, 2005) - East Tennessee State sophomore centerfielder Stephen Douglas (Kennesaw, Ga.) capped a 5-for-5 day at the plate with a game-winning two-run double in the top of the ninth as the Bucs defeated Radford, 13-11, Tuesday afternoon from Dedmon Center Park in Radford, Va. With the non-conference win, the Bucs raise their record to 16-8 while the Highlanders fall to 7-19.

The Bucs took an early lead with a run in the top of the first. With one out, junior right fielder Shane Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.) walked, senior first baseman Caleb Moore (Knoxville, Tenn.) hit an infield single and Douglas walked to load the bases. Junior shortstop Chuck Hargis (Powell, Tenn.) then reached on an error, scoring Byrne from third.

ETSU took advantage of some shaky Radford defense and had two clutch hits in a four-run second inning. Sophomore catcher John Weddle (Knoxville, Tenn.) walked with one out, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single up the middle by senior second baseman Nick Crowe (Johnson City, Tenn.). Byrne then followed with an RBI double down the left field line while he would come home as Moore reached on an error. Moore would cross the plate on an RBI double down the left field line by Douglas.

Radford got on the board with a run in the bottom of the second. With one out, Kellen Wohlford laced a single to left field. Wohlford advanced to second on a balk, stole third and scored on a throwing error.

East Tennessee State added three runs on three hits in the top of the third. With one down, sophomore designated hitter Mike Giroud (St. Petersburg, Fla.) hit a double off the wall in deep center. Weddle followed with a single to center and both runners scored on a triple to right-center. Crowe would then score on a sacrifice fly by Byrne.

The Highlanders got back in the game with three runs in the bottom of the third, cutting the Buccaneer lead to 8-4. Matt Mantione and Steve Mignogna led off the inning with back-to-back singles and Alan Ashworth walked to load the bases. Mark Fleisher then drove in a run on an infield single and Aaron Ranft hit a sacrifice fly to deep left. Ashworth scored the final run of the inning by scoring on a passed ball.

The Bucs scored another run in the top of the fourth as Douglas singled to lead off the inning and scored on a one-out double by freshman third baseman Anthony Russell (Waldorf, Md.).

Radford cut two more runs off the Buccaneer lead in the bottom of the fourth. Mantione was hit by a pitch with one out and Mignogna followed with a two-run homer over the left field wall.

ETSU extended its lead to 10-6 with a run in the top of the fifth. Douglas singled with two outs, stole second and third, then scored on a throwing error.

The Highlanders closed to within two runs, scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth. With two down, Ashworth hit a solo home run over the right field wall. Fleisher followed with a single to right and scored on a triple to center by Aaron Ranft.

East Tennessee State put another run on the board in the top of the eighth. Douglas led off the inning with a single to center and later crossed the plate on a sac fly by Russell.

Radford completed its comeback, tying the game at 11 with three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Ranft Wohlford and Vellines hit consecutive clutch RBI singles with two outs in the inning.

But the Bucs responded immediately as Byrne hit a leadoff single in the top of the ninth and Moore was hit by a pitch to set the stage for Douglas' game-winning hit.

Moore earned the win (4-0) pitching the final two innings and allowing an unearned run on three hits and striking out one. Cory Koliscak was charged with the loss (1-1) for the Highlanders, giving up two runs on two hits in one inning of work.

Douglas had a phenomenal afternoon, scoring three times, driving in three runs and stealing three bases in addition to his five hits. Crowe was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs while Byrne was 2-for-3 three runs scored and two driven in.

Radford was led at the plate by Fleisher, who was 3-for-4 while Ranft drove in three runs and Mignogna scored three times.

The Buccaneers return to action on Friday night at 7 p.m. in the opener of a key three-game Southern Conference series at Western Carolina.