RADFORD, Va. - Brantley Meier was stellar from the plate and Jesse Cadenhead threw 3 1/3 brilliant innings of relief to earn his third win of the season as the Charleston Southern baseball team defeated Radford University 7-5 Friday afternoon at Radford University Baseball Field.

The Buccaneers (11-17, 2-4 Big South) earned their first win in Game One of a Big South Conference series since an April 11, 2009, victory over High Point University. The Highlanders (12-11, 3-1 Big South) dropped their first conference match of the season.

Meier scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning and drove home an insurance run with a single up the middle in the ninth.

Cadenhead (3-3) relieved CSU starter Anthony Markham and allowed just one run on one hit. He was overpowering with his six strikeouts to just one walk.

CSU outhit RU 10-7, and the Highlanders committed five errors to just two from the Buccaneers.

Reggie Keen led off the bottom of the first for Radford by being hit by a pitch. He would later score on a single to left center from Matt Hillsinger to give RU an early 1-0 lead.

CSU answered with three runs in the top of the third. Tom Burkett got things started with a single to lead off the frame, and he would later score when Meier singled to the infield. Derek Smith earned a bases-loaded walk to score Meier, and Jon Matthews scored when Matt Still was hit by a pitch. The threat was stifled as Tyler Thornburg grounded into a double play.

Radford answered in the home half of the third with a run by Tyren Rivers. He led off the frame with a single and later scored on an RBI groundout from Raphael Turner.

Meier scored again in the fifth on a batter's interference to push the score to 4-2.

Brett Mollenhauer scored in the fifth and Cory Turner homered in the sixth for Radford to tie the game at 4-4.

Charleston Southern finished strong despite the comeback attempt from the home squad, and brought home three runners in the final two frames.

Bentley Christmas scored in the top of the eighth on a fielder's choice by Nick Chinners, and Meier scored what proved to be the game-winning run on the same play on a failed double-play attempt by Radford.

Robert Lamas homered in the home half of the eighth, but Still plated an insurance run in the ninth to make the score 7-5 and give the Buccaneers just enough cushion to hold off the Highlanders.

Cadenhead retired the side in the ninth to power CSU to victory.

Markham threw 5 2/3 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits. He struck out five and walked five in the no decision.

Meier, Matthews, Thornburg and Burkett all recorded two hits. Meier drove home two and scored three times. Matthews, Chinners, Smith and Still all picked up an RBI. Matthews, Still, Burkett and Christmas all crossed home plate.

Aerik Taylor started on the mound for Radford and took the no-decision. He pitched six innings and allowed four hits (three earned) on seven hits. Brad Wimmer (1-1) relieved Taylor and took the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits in two innings. Abram Williams recorded the final three outs for RU with two coming by way of strikeout.

Hillsinger was the lone Highlander with multiple hits and runs batted in. He finished 2-for-5 and drove home two. Five different Radford batters scored.

The Buccaneers and Highlanders will wrap up the series with a doubleheader April 4 beginning at noon. Tyler Thornburg (Jr., RHP, 4-1, 4.01 ERA) will face off with Eddie Butler (Fr., RHP, 4-0, 2.97 ERA) in the first game of the day, and Andrew White (Sr., LHP, 1-1, 4.64 ERA) is scheduled to start opposite Bobby Bolling (Jr., RHP, 0-0, 6.04 ERA) in the series finale.