RADFORD, Va.? Junior catcher Nate Toth brought home the final three runs of the game on a pair of doubles as Radford fought back from a three-run deficit to score a 4-3 series-opening win over VMI on Friday afternoon at Dedmon Center Park.
The Keydets (31-16, 7-9 Big South) grabbed a 3-0 lead with single runs in each of the first three innings. But RU starter Adam Hoyt combined with relievers Josh Hammonds (1-1) and Eric Evans to keep the visitors at bay the rest of the way, in all stranding 13 runners on the day in the one-run loss.
On the other side, VMI starter Michael Bowman left the game in the seventh inning after working six-plus innings, allowing only three runs on six hits, striking out eight while walking only two. He gave way to Corey Bachman (4-2), who allowed Toth's eighth-inning two-bagger that plated Alex Gregory with the go-ahead run. Toth (2-for-4, 3 RBI) and Gregory (3-for-4, 1 RBI) did the major damage for the Highlanders at the plate, who scored their second straight win after dropping 12 in a row.
“I thought that Michael Bowman and Corey Bachman did a good job on the mound today,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “We had a chance to put the game away early, and we didn't. Give credit to their guys, they did what they had to do to come back and score a Friday night win.”
The Keydets were the beneficiaries of eight walks on the afternoon, along with three hit by pitches. Those free bases, along with the nine hits tallied by VMI, led to multiple baserunners in six of the nine innings, while the Keydets were retired in order only once.
The first three innings saw a dominating VMI performance on both sides. Run-scoring singles from Thane Smith and Michael Roberts sandwiched an RBI groundout from Tanner Biagini, as the Keydets grabbed a 3-0 lead. On the other side, Michael Bowman struck out six of the ten batters he faced through the first three frames, allowing only a walk to leadoff man Steve Mignogna.
In the fourth inning, the Keydets loaded the bases with two outs before Smith struck out to end the rally. In the bottom half, Corey Greene and Gregory combined for back-to-back doubles to lead things off, plating the first run of the game for the Highlanders, cutting the margin to 3-1.
VMI stranded a pair of runners in the fifth inning and another in the sixth with the count still at 3-1, before RU answered. Bowman struck out the leadoff man in the bottom of the sixth, before a pair of singles from Gregory and Raphael Turner preceded Toth's two-run knock down the rightfield-line to knot the game at three.
Bowman left the game after allowing a leadoff single and fielding error by Rick Hoogstraten in the seventh inning, giving way to Bachman. Hoogstraten moved to third on a groundout induced by Bachman, before being caught in a rundown between third base and home on a fielder's choice hit into by Steve Mignogna, while the rally ended a batter later on a strikeout.
But Bachman wasn't so lucky in the eighth inning, allowing back-to-back singles to lead things off, then another RBI double to Toth to bring the margin to 4-3. However, with runners at second and third and no one out, Bachman escaped further damage with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout, keeping the advantage at one run and giving the Keydet offense a chance in the ninth inning.
The Keydets got both the tying and go-ahead runs on board to begin the ninth, as Hammonds walked Robert Crumpler and hit Thane Smith. Evans then came on and got the first two outs of the inning on two pitches, as Michael Roberts popped out on a sacrifice bunt attempt before Jacoby Fields flew out to shallow centerfield. Brian Sandridge then stepped to the plate, and was called out on strikes on a 2-2 pitch.
The Keydets and Highlanders return to action on Saturday afternoon, playing game two at 1 p.m. at Dedmon Center Park.
