FAIRLAWN, Va. (Interstat) — Lucas Boesen allowed no hits over 6 1/3 innings but saw his team’s early lead nearly slip away before Branden Barna closed the door as UNC Asheville beat Radford 6-4 on Sunday afternoon at Radford Baseball Stadium to win the Big South series.

The Bulldogs scored twice in the third inning, twice in the sixth and twice in the eighth to overcome an early deficit and hand the Highlanders their second loss in the three-game set. Radford had won the series opener 9-5 on Friday before UNC Asheville evened the series with a 4-2 victory Saturday.

Boesen, a right-hander, struck out five and walked two but was charged with three earned runs despite not surrendering a hit. The Bulldogs’ defense turned three double plays behind him, and Radford grounded into four double plays overall. Barna earned the save, working the final 2 2/3 innings scoreless on no hits with two strikeouts.

Radford struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Jaeden Son doubled down the left-field line and Hunter Keen tripled to right-center to score the game’s first run. Ethan Hudgins then lifted a sacrifice fly to center, plating Keen for a 2-0 Highlanders lead.

UNC Asheville answered in the third. Jordan Pereira singled and Lucas Lowe walked before Tucker Parks singled to right, driving in Pereira. After an out, Owen Son stole second and Patrick Gillen grounded out to first, scoring Lowe to tie the game at 2-2.

The game remained tied until the sixth inning. Gillen walked and stole second, and Ben Green doubled down the right-field line to bring him home. Two sacrifice bunts by Braden Hemphill and Colby McGinnis each produced a run, extending the Bulldogs’ lead to 4-2.

Radford cut the margin to 4-3 in the seventh. Alex Levesque doubled and Bricen Son singled him in. Barna relieved Boesen after that hit and induced a line-drive double play to end the threat.

UNC Asheville added two crucial insurance runs in the eighth. Owen Son walked, advanced to third on a single by Gillen and scored on a passed ball. Gillen later scored when Ben Green singled and was caught stealing, but the damage was done.

Radford responded with a run in the bottom half. Ethan Hudgins singled, Brody Nace singled and Nick Toole singled to center to plate Hudgins, making it 6-4. But Barna got a flyout to end the inning, then retired the side in order in the ninth, including a game-ending double play.

Green finished 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI for UNC Asheville. Gillen went 2 for 3 with a walk, a stolen base and an RBI. For Radford, Brooks Simpson went 3 for 4 with an RBI, and Hunter Keen drove in a run while going 1 for 4.

The Bulldogs improved to 20-32 overall; the Highlanders fell to 23-23. UNC Asheville hosts High Point for a three-game series starting Thursday, while Radford travels to Charleston Southern for a three-game set beginning the same day.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Radford 6, UNC Asheville 2, and the ELO system gave Radford a 63.90 percent probability to win.