Box Score

RADFORD, Va. – Radford plated five runs in the eighth inning and went ahead on senior third baseman Nick Minter's (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) two-run single with two outs to finish a series sweep of Canisius, 12-11, at Radford University Baseball Field Sunday afternoon.

With the game tied at 10-10, Minter delivered the go-ahead hit with the bases loaded and two away in the home half of the eighth, scoring junior right fielder Reggie Keen (Danville, Va./G.W.-Danville) and freshman shortstop Jeff Kemp (Bowie, Md./Archbishop Spalding) on the play.

Down 10-7 with one away to start the frame, the Highlanders (4-5) got the next eight men on base and Kemp got things started by plating a pair on a single through the left side to make it 10-9. Keen's fielder's choice ground out on the next play scored freshman second baseman Brett Mollenhauer (Roanoke, Va./Hidden Valley) to tie the game.

In the top of the ninth inning, freshman right-hander Jason Patten (Davidsonville, Md./Archbishop Spalding) set down the first two hitters before Brian Burton of Canisius (2-6) hit a solo home run over the right field fence, cutting the lead to one.

Patten struck out Shayne Willson on the next play to nail down his second save of the season.

Minter finished the afternoon 3-of-5 at the plate with his two eighth-inning RBI and a run scored.

Senior right-hander Josh Hammonds (Herndon, Va./Herndon) worked a scoreless seventh and eighth to earn the win (1-0).

The Highlanders got multi-hit afternoons from Kemp, Mollenhauer, junior center fielder Tyren Rivers (Suffolk, Va./Nansemond River) and senior left fielder Mario Duarte (Tampa, Fla./Gaither). Kemp added three RBI to his day's work.

Willson, who was tagged with the loss (0-1), led the Golden Griffins at the plate going 3-for-5 with two RBi and three runs scored. Willson hit a solo homer to lead off the second inning.

Canisius hit five home runs in the loss, including a two-run shot in the third by second baseman Steve McQuail.

Radford, which trailed 4-2 heading to the third, strung together a three-run bottom half, highlighted by Duarte's two-run double to left center.

The Highlanders return to the field Monday, playing Division I newcomer Bryant at Virginia Tech's English Field. First pitch is at approximately 6 p.m.