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Wohlford?s RBI-Single Helps #6 Radford Eliminate #5 VMI 8-7

CONWAY, S.C. ? Kellen Wohlford's two-out RBI-single in the top of the ninth inning scored Steve Mignonga to give No. 6 seed Radford an 8-7 lead over No. 5 seed VMI, and Highlanders pitcher Cory Koliscak escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom half by striking out Keydet Chase Buchanan to end the fourth game of the 2005 Bojangles' Big South Baseball Championship at Watson Stadium/Vrooman Field on the campus of Coastal Carolina University. Radford (15-39) will face either the loser of the Winthrop-Liberty contest Friday at 11:00am, or Birmingham-Southern at 3:00pm Friday, should the Panthers defeat Coastal Carolina Thursday. With the loss, VMI is eliminated from the tournament and ends its season at 27-28, which is a school record for wins.

Radford struck early and often, jumping out to a 6-0 lead through three-and-a-half innings. Wohlford, a Second-Team All-Conference selection, highlighted RU's hitting attack with a two-run homer in the third. On the mound, RU starter Justin Tubb kept VMI hitless through 3.2 innings, but allowed four runs to cross the plate in the bottom of the fourth. Radford went ahead 7-4 in the top of the fifth, only to see the Keydets add a run in the sixth and tie the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the seventh when Elliott Erbe singled home Robert Crumpler with two outs.

After a scoreless eighth inning for both squads, VMI brought in pitcher Jeff DeMara, who opened the ninth inning with a walk to Mignogna, who eventually reached third base following a sacrifice bunt and fly out to rightfield. Mark Fleisher was intentionally walked, leading to Wohlford's game-winning hit. The win is Radford's first Big South Tournament victory since defeating Liberty in 1993, snapping a 15-game losing streak in the tourney, and marks the first tournament win for Highlanders head coach Lew Kent.

Wohlford finished 5-5 at the plate for Radford with three runs scored and three RBI. John Vellines also had three hits for the Highlanders. On the mound, Koliscak (2-2) earned the win with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief with one walk and two strikeouts. Tubb went 6.1 innings, allowing nine hits, seven runs, four earned runs, three walks and two strikeouts. For VMI, B.T. Good was 3-3 at the plate with two runs and two RBI, while Buchanan had two hits and three runs batted in. Crumpler and Thane Smith also had two hits for the Keydets. VMI starter Duke Acors lasted three innings and allowed six hits and six runs (four earned), with a walk. J.J. Hollenbeck tossed five innings in relief, scattering five hits and one run with three strikeouts.

Quotes
Radford Head Coach Lew Kent
“Both teams scrapped and showed tremendous heart. We had some timely hits and they had some timely hits, we just had a few more. Justin Tubb is why we won. He got off to the 6-0 start and they had the four-run inning, and he didn't fold. He should have got the win ... It (the first tournament win) was long overdue.”

VMI Head Coach Marlin Ikenberry
“We got down 6-0 early, and we did a great job of making it a ballgame. I'm real proud of how this team played and they way the competed all year. For this team to have 27 wins and break the school record is a huge accomplishment.”
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