Lexington, Va. -- Alan Ashworth smacked a solo homerun off VMI senior Jeremy Harper (Seneca Rocks, W.Va. / Pendleton County) in the top of the seventh inning to lead Radford past the Keydets, 2-1, on Tuesday at Patchin Field.

After two scoreless innings pitched from VMI's Phil Hendrix (Richmond, Va. / West Iredell, N.C.) and Radford's Justin Tubb, the Highlanders (2-2) jumped on the scoreboard first in the top of the third inning when Ryan Wetzel doubled down the right field line, bringing Stuart Ritchie home and giving Radford the early lead at 1-0.

VMI (2-6) responded in the bottom of the third when freshman Allan Wimmer (Vienna, Va. / James Madison) drove one of Tubb's offerings into left-center field for a single, scoring sophomore Matt Smith (Chesapeake, Va. / Great Bridge) to tie the score at 1-1.

On the mound, Tubb (2-0) pitched six innings, giving up one run on six hits while striking out five. Brett Lieberman gave up no hits in the final inning to pick up the save. Harper (0-1) pitched four innings, giving up one run on three hits and picking up four strikeouts. Hendrix pitched five innings, giving up one run on six hits with five strikeouts in the start.

"We pitched extremely well and played great defense," stated VMI head coach Tom Slater. "The hits will eventually come. As long as we pitch well and play good defense, we'll be in every game."

VMI will next play on Wednesday when they travel to the University of Richmond to face the Spiders. The opening pitch is set for 2 p.m.


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