
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 14, 1993                   TAG: 9305140177
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From Associated Press and staff reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

RADFORD AN UPSET WINNER IN BIG SOUTH

Third baseman Rob McCandless had three hits and drove in two runs to lead Radford to a 9-3 victory over Maryland-Baltimore County in Thursday's opener of the Big South Conference baseball tournament in Conway, S.C.

The fifth-seeded Highlanders (27-17) scored all their runs in the last three innings, knocking out Kevin Loewe (8-1), the conference player of the year who came into the game undefeated. In the seventh inning, Loewe allowed four straight hits, including a two-run triple by right fielder Donnie Fields, and Radford led 3-2.

The Retrievers (25-13) tied it in the bottom of the seventh, then Radford got four runs in the eighth, including a two-run single by McCandless and run-scoring singles by designated hitter Brian Pardue and first baseman Denny Van Pelt.

Left fielder Duane Filchner homered for Radford's final two runs in the ninth. Jim Abbott allowed three earned runs over 6 innings, and Travis Toms (3-4) got the win with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Radford plays at 1 p.m. today against Winthrop, a 7-1 winner in 11 innings over Towson State.

Liberty also upset top-seeded Coastal Carolina 12-7 on Beau Martin's two home runs. Martin, who also had a double and two walks, drove in six runs for the sixth-seeded Flames.

In other baseball:

Eighth-seeded Virginia begins play in the ACC baseball tournament against No. 2 seed North Carolina State on Saturday in Greenville, S.C.

by CNB