Five Bullpen Arms Combine to Allow One Hit and No Runs, But Baseball Drops Series Opener at Radford

Thursday, April 2

Radford, Va.

6:00 p.m.

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

15-16, 5-5

Radford

13-13, 3-4

UPST

Radford

Photo by: Emma Hudson

4/2/2026 10:34:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

RADFORD, Va. – Beginning another three-game league set inside the Old Dominion, USC Upstate baseball saw its latest rally attempt fall short, dropping its series opener 6-4 to Radford at Sherman Carter Memorial Stadium Thursday evening.

The Spartans, for the sixth time in seven contests, scored in the first inning, plating a run behind a two-base error by the Highlander leftfielder. Radford, however, responded with three runs in the home half of the stanza, before adding two runs in the second, and another in the third to stake a 6-1 advantage.

From there, Upstate's bullpen took charge, seeing five pitchers combine for 6.0 shutout innings as the Spartans attempted a comeback. Freshman right-handed pitcher Andrew Kummer, junior righty Nathan Hook, redshirt junior right-hander Max Bianchini, senior righty Juan Reyes, and sophomore right-hander Cayden Mackey combined to allow one hit and three baserunners in their respective outings while standing four of five inherited runners on the night.

As the bullpen hung zeros, the Spartans began their comeback attempt with three tallies in their ledger in the fifth. The first run of the frame came home behind an RBI double from senior second baseman Gage Griggs before an RBI groundout from redshirt sophomore centerfielder Henry Zenor and a sac fly from redshirt sophomore shortstop Maloy Heaghney capped the three-run frame.

Recording his 12^th multi-hit game, redshirt senior third baseman Jake Armsey collected two of Upstate's four hits on the night.

Game Information
Score: Radford 6; USC Upstate 4
Records: USC Upstate (15-16; 5-5 Big South); Radford (13-13; 3-4 Big South)
Location: Sherman Carter Memorial Stadium | Radford, Va.

How It Happened

T1: Lacing a fly ball to the opposite field and down the leftfield line, Johnny Sweeney drove in the game's first run as Henry Zenor scored from second.
B1: Using four straight hits to begin the home half of the opening stanza, Radford scored thrice behind RBI singles from Hunter Keen and Breckin Nace (two RBI).
B2: Behind back-to-back doubles from Junho Son and Keen, the Highlanders hung two more runs on the board in the second.
B3: The Highlanders' sixth run of the night crossed as Brady Whitacre bounced into a fielder's choice with the bases loaded.
T5: Lessening the Radford advantage, Upstate plated three runs of its own in the fifth. Gage Griggs drove home the first with a double down the leftfield line. A pair of productive outs, a groundout from Zenor and a sac fly from Maloy Heaghney hung runs two and three in the inning on the board.

Notable

Ending the first inning with a 4-6-3 double play, Upstate extended its streak of games with a twin killing to eight games, the longest stretch of the season.

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