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

DATE: SATURDAY, March 18, 1995                   TAG: 9503210053
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RADFORD ENDS LOSING STREAK IN BASEBALL

Radford snapped a six-game losing streak Friday with a 7-6 college baseball victory over C.W. Post at Dedmon Center Park in Radford.

The Highlanders fell behind 4-1 before rallying behind Joe Raccuia and pitcher Mike Parker. Raccuia went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs, including a two-run single in the fourth inning to tie the score. Third baseman Rob McCandless put the Highlanders up 5-4 before Radford (6-11) added two more runs in the eighth to take a 7-4 lead.

The Pioneers (2-4) rallied in the ninth, loading the bases and scoring two runs before Jon Norcia's line drive was snared by Raccuia and turned into a double play. Center fielder Donnie Fields then made a running grab on shortstop Rick Casazza's liner to end the game.

Parker (2-2) overcame some early trouble to pitch seven innings, scattering nine hits and allowing four runs. Dub Salyers pitched the ninth and picked up his third save.

In other sports in the region:

In Iowa City, Iowa, VMI's Kevin Johnson lost in the consolation rounds at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships.

Johnson beat Hardell Moore of Oklahoma State 3-1 in the second round of the consolation bracket at 158 pounds but lost his third-round match to Mike Collins of Missouri 4-3.

The Keydets' Aaron Mickiewicz lost to North Carolina State's Wayne Jackson 6-4 in a consolation bout at 126 pounds and was eliminated.

In New Bern, N.C., Virginia Tech was tied for second in the team standings and the Hokies' Brian Sharp was tied for second in the individual competition after the first round of the East Carolina University Sheraton-Emerald Intercollegiate golf tournament.

On the 6,924-yard par-72 Emerald Golf Club course, Virginia Commonwealth fired a 2-under-par 286 and was four shots ahead of the Hokies and Richmond.

Martin Vanderberg of Miami, Ohio, shot a 3-under 69 to take a 1-shot lead over four players including Sharp. The other three Tech scores came from Curtis Deal (72), David Havens (73) and Sean Farrell (75).

by CNB