Although the Radford baseball team (4-5) displayed its hunger to win, the Highlanders fell to Virginia (10-3) yesterday afternoon in an important in-state contest with a final score of 5-1.
"Radford is always tough," Virginia senior Dan Street said. "They are really scrappy. They definitely fight for it."
Street's description seemed especially appropriate when Radford sophomore catcher Shaun House dove into the backstop after a foul bunt in the bottom of the sixth.
Virginia was ready for the Highlanders' desire to post a win over the state's powerhouse and, after Tuesday's loss to Liberty, the Cavaliers were not going to take Radford lightly.
"We knew that we needed to come out strong and really concentrate," Virginia junior Robert Word said. "These in-state games are really killer. We really need to win them if we're going to advance and go to regionals."
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In the end, Radford's grit was not enough to contain the steady pitching and superb base running of the Cavaliers.
Virginia started sophomore Joe Koshansky on the mound, and he held off the Highlanders, allowing only one run in the eighth. Sophomore Ty Collins relieved Koshansky to face the final three batters, and did not allow the Highlanders to claim the lead.
"We needed to come out with our best, pitching-wise," Virginia coach Dennis Womack said. "Joe Koshansky did that for us, which was absolutely key."
On the other side, Radford started a young pitcher, Cory Koliscak, and Virginia played his weaknesses for all they were worth.
"He has a real high leg kick," Street said of Highlander hurler, Koliscak. "We saw that, and it made it easy for us to steal."
As a result, two of four Virginia runs came about when right fielder Shaun McCleary and left fielder David Stone stole their way home.
Freshman designated hitter Matt Street added to Virginia's scoring run, driving in his older brother, Dan Street, in the second inning and Word in the sixth.
Down 4-0 after seven at bats, the Highlanders refused to lose quietly. In the top of the eighth, they mounted another effort to score. With two men on, junior center fielder Jerry Fulton doubled to right field, driving in junior left fielder Nat Hodges.
In that same inning, Virginia's Word was quick to answer with another run during the Cavaliers final at-bat.
The Highlanders fought to the finish - even sending in junior first baseman Mike Tarbox to pinch hit, but the Cavaliers reaffirmed for themselves, and for their in-state foes, that they truly are tops in Virginia.
The Cavaliers will hope to see that momentum carry over, as they look ahead to six games in eight days, including a home series against No. 1 Florida State.
"We really need to win these games," Womack said. "It's a big week."
If the Cavaliers can carry their confidence into this six-game stretch, they just might have a chance to topple the Seminoles and improve their conference standings.
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