RADFORD, Va. - The Radford Highlanders scored in six straight innings, including a game-turning five runs in the sixth inning, to pull away and beat the VMI Keydets 14-5 in the second game of a Big South baseball doubleheader Sunday in Radford, Va. With the win, Radford swept the doubleheader and took the series two games to one.
In the opener, VMI (15-16-1, 5-7 Big South) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, only to see the Highlanders (18-13, 4-5 Big South) score twice in the second and four in the third to pull ahead 6-3.
From there, Keydet starter Jason Farley settled down and neither team could score until the ninth, when VMI strung together five consecutive singles to cut the lead to one, 6-5. Unfortunately for the visitors, RU closer Abram Williams struck out Jacob Morley and induced Rob Dickinson to hit into a 4-6-3 double play, ending the contest. The Highlanders then scored the final nine runs of game two to capture the twinbill.
Jason Farley (1-6) took the loss in game one, going six innings and surrendering six runs (five earned), while Mark Peterson (2-1) went six innings to notch the win for Radford. The victor in game two was Bobby Bolling (4-2), while Jeremy Brown took the loss to fall to 2-2.
In game one, the Keydets got on the board with two outs in the first. George Piccirilli hit a fly ball to center field that RU center fielder Zach Costello lost in the high sky. The ball fell and was scored a double, while the next batter, Alex Haitsuka, singled to score Piccirilli and give VMI a 1-0 first inning lead.
The Keydets would add to that cushion in the second, as Justin Topping doubled with one out and Chase Worthington singled him home, putting VMI up by two. Worthington then moved up a base on a wild pitch, and one out later, Sam Roberts singled him in, making it 3-0, VMI.
The Highlanders scored twice in the second, cutting the lead to one, and then Radford came back in the third, scoring four times to take a 6-3 lead. Cory Turner tripled home the first run, and scored on an Alex Guerra single. Carl Travers then drove in two with an RBI single, accounting for the home team's three-run edge.
Neither team could score again until the ninth in the opening game. VMI had the best chance, putting two on with one out in the sixth, but Roberts rolled into a double play to end the threat. Farley and the Keydet bullpen kept the Radford offense down, as the home team managed just one hit from the fourth inning on, and the game went to the ninth with RU still holding the 6-3 lead.
In that inning, Justin Hess and Roberts had back-to-back singles, and Graham Sullivan followed with a bouncer through the left side, loading the bases. Piccirilli and Haitsuka followed with singles to drive in runs, and bring VMI within one, but Radford stopper Williams struck out Morley on three pitches for the first out. Dickinson then rolled over on a ground ball for the game-ending double play, giving the home team the 6-5 victory.
The opening contest saw both Piccirilli and Haitsuka notch three hits, while Hess continued his torrid streak in conference action by going 2 for 3. Costello went 3 for 4 to lead Radford.
Game two opened up well for VMI, as Roberts hit the second pitch of the game over the 370' sign in left-center field for his fourth home run of the year, giving the Keydets the 1-0 edge. Radford tied the game in the second, as Jake Taylor had an RBI single, and the Highlanders took the lead in the third. Brett Mollenhauer doubled to lead off the inning, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out by Matt Hillsinger, making it 2-1, RU.
The Keydets came back in the fourth, as Sullivan led off the inning with a single and stole second. One out later, Haitsuka launched his second home run of the year, a two-run shot to left field, giving the Keydets a 3-2 lead. The long ball also extended the senior's hitting streak to 14 games, a season-high for any VMI player.
Radford rallied with three in the fourth, as Matt Mack singled and Alex Guerra walked to start the inning. A Ryan Burgess RBI single loaded the bases, and one out later, Daniel Wright tied the game with an RBI ground out. Mollenhauer then drove home two with a single to left, putting RU up 5-3. Roberts doubled home two for the Keydets in the fifth, tying the game, but Radford took the 6-5 edge with a run in the bottom half.
That set up the crucial sixth inning, when Burgess led off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. One out later, Wright bunted the ball between the mound and home plate. Brown came off the mound, scooped the ball in his glove and tried to make the play at the plate, but flipped the ball over the head of catcher Andrew Montague, allowing a run to score and giving RU a 7-5 lead.
That brought on Campbell Henkel, who gave up a walk and an RBI double that extended the lead to three, 8-5, and John Garrett was greeted by a two-run single off the bat of Turner, extending the lead to 10-5. The final run came on an RBI double by Mack, making it 11-5 after six innings. Radford would then add three runs in the seventh to account for the final margin.
Hess went 1 for 3 in the nightcap for VMI, and has now raised his average to .323, nearly 60 points higher than his mark just 10 games ago. Roberts was the only Keydet to have multiple hits, going 2 for 4 including his home run.
VMI will return to action Wednesday, traveling to Williamsburg, Va. to take on the William and Mary Tribe. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
Radford vs. VMI (April 10, 2011 at Radford, Va. - Game One)
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VMI . 120 000 002 - 5 14 1 (15-15-1, 5-6)
RU 024 000 00X - 6 9 1 (17-13, 3-5)
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VMI - Farley; Thomas (7) and Haitsuka.
RU - Peterson; Quigg (7); Williams (7) and Travers.
W - Peterson (2-1) S - Williams (8) L - Farley (1-6) T - 2:32 A - 450
Radford vs. VMI (April 10, 2011 at Radford, Va. - Game Two)
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VMI . 100 220 000 - 5 6 1 (15-16-1, 5-7)
RU 011 315 30X - 14 13 1 (18-13, 4-5)
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VMI - Brown; Henkel (6); Garrett (6); Devine (7); Deal (7) and Montague.
RU - Bolling; McDaniel (6) and Wright; Juanarena (9)
W - Bolling (4-2) S - McDaniel (1) L - Brown (2-2) T - 2:38 A - 450
HR VMI - Roberts (4), Haitsuka (2)
