Radford brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning Wednesday evening at Carter Memorial Stadium, but No. 24 Notre Dame held on for a 9-8 win over the Highlanders.
Radford (9-8) had its five-game win streak snapped with the loss. Notre Dame (11-2) won its seventh straight contest.
The Highlanders took an early lead on a two-run opposite field blast off the bat of J.D. Mundy in the first inning. Radford added a third run in the inning on a David Bryant double off the top of the wall in right center.
Notre Dame tied the game in the fourth inning, but the Highlanders immediately reclaimed the lead. Sean Cheely executed a squeeze play to perfection, laying down a perfect bunt to score Will Harless, who was running on the pitch, from third.
A two-run homer in the fifth gave Notre Dame the lead, which they would not relinquish. The Fighting Irish ended up putting a five spot on the board in the inning
Radford rallied in the ninth after Carlin Christian doubled down the line, scoring a pair. Following an RBI groundout, the Highlanders had the tying run at the plate with two outs, but Mundy struck out swinging against Notre Dame flame-throwing closer Joe Boyle to end the game.
Tommy Vail earned the win for the Fighting Irish while Andrew Boyd was tagged with the loss. Boyle earned the save for Notre Dame.
Infielder Austin Kaplan made his second relief appearance of the season, allowing just an unearned run in four innings of work while striking out four. Mundy’s homer was his team-leading fourth of the season. Ryan Sande started the game for Radford and threw two shutout innings, allowing just one hit with three strikeouts.
–RU Athletics