LEXINGTON, Va. – Ryan Meisinger and three Radford Highlander relievers combined to pitch a five-hitter as their team defeated the VMI Keydets, 5-1, in the opener of a doubleheader Saturday at Gray-Minor Stadium in Lexington.
Saturday's game was scoreless through the first three innings until Radford (11-8, 2-0 Big South) broke through in the fourth against VMI's (9-9, 0-2 BSC) Connor Bach. Alexander Lee led off with a single and Patrick Marshall was hit by a pitch. After a sacrifice bunt, a walk loaded the bases and singles by Josh Gardiner and Chris Coia plated three runs and gave RU the lead. Blake Sipe followed with a RBI double that was lost in the high sky by the VMI outfield, making it 4-0 Radford, and the Highlanders were not seriously threatened the rest of the way.
On the mound, both starters got the decisions, with Bach (1-3) taking the loss after giving up five runs in four-plus innings. He struck out five and walked three. Meisinger (2-0) allowed one run in 5 1/3 frames to get the win for Radford.
After taking the 4-0 lead, RU added on in the fifth, thanks to a Patrick Marshall single. The Highlanders would manage just two hits against four Keydet relievers the rest of the way and VMI got a run back in the sixth. Josh Worthley reached on a one-out walk and Cameron Walter followed with a double, ending Meisinger's afternoon. Will Connerley then lofted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Worthley and making it a 5-1 contest.
VMI then averted Radford rallies in the eighth and ninth before trying one of its own in its final at-bat. Walter led off the VMI ninth with a single, and pinch-runner Gary LeClair stole second. LeClair then moved to third on an infield out, and one batter later, Matt Winn walked. Pinch-runner Sheldon Shifflett stole second, putting two in scoring position and the tying run in the on-deck circle, but Drew Bryan lined out to center field after a nine-pitch at-bat to end the game.
Offensively, the Keydets were led by Walter's 2 for 2 day that also included a walk, while Radford was paced by Lee's 3 for 4, two runs scored afternoon.
