RADFORD, Va. – Junior right-hander Aerik Taylor (Williamsport, Md./Williamsport) threw eight innings for Radford and junior Rick Hoogstraten (Poquoson, Va./Poquoson) delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in the seventh to lift the Highlanders to 5-3 win over VMI in the first game of a Big South series at Radford University Baseball Field on Friday.

Taylor struck out eight Keydets and allowed three runs on six hits to work his second-straight eight-inning start in row, earning the win (4-3). 

He set down 19 VMI hitters in a row after a first inning where he gave up a leadoff single to right fielder Sam Roberts, who came around to score on second baseman A.J. Yoder's RBI groundout.   The junior righty held the Keydets scoreless for the next five innings, and after giving up a pair in the seventh, fired another 1-2-3 frame in the eighth.

Hoogstraten came off the bench after the two-run seventh by VMI and knocked in senior third baseman Nick Minter (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) on a hit-and-run through the left side to give the Highlanders a 4-3 lead.

Minter, who led the Highlanders offensively with a 2-for-3 performance and two RBI, led off the inning with a walk to set up the go-ahead run. In the eighth inning, Minter added the insurance for Radford with a two-out single to bring in junior right fielder Reggie Keen (Danville, Va./G.W.-Danville) and give the Highlanders a 5-3 lead.

Radford got three additional multi-hit efforts, including a 3-for-4 day from Keen, and two hits each from senior left fielder Mario Duarte (Tampa, Fla./Gaither) and freshman second baseman Brett Mollenhauer (Roanoke, Va./Hidden Valley).

Freshman right-hander Jason Patten (Davidsonville, Md./Archbishop Spalding) worked a scoreless ninth to earn his sixth save, putting him just two away from tying the school record for stops in a season.

Taylor and the Highlanders stifled the Keydets offensively until a two-out rally tied the game. After third baseman Tanner Biagini sent a two-out single through the left side, catcher Alex Haitsuka followed that with a single of his own to put a pair on. Then, left fielder Brian Sandridge laced the first pitch he saw to center field, doubling home a pair and tying the game at 3-3.

First baseman Jordan Ballard and Biagini had two hits each for VMI.

Left-hander Travis Smink worked six innings in the start for the Keydets, allowing two earned runs on nine hits, striking out five and walking four.

Righty Matt Edwards took the loss (2-3) after coming on in the seventh.

After VMI jumped out in front in the first inning, Radford plated two in the bottom half, capitalizing on VMI's two errors. After senior designated hitter Will Naylor (Clifton, Va./Paul VI) scored on a fielders' choice to tie the game, Minter singled to center field to bring home senior first baseman Alex Gregory (Great Falls, Va./Paul VI) and give Radford the 2-1 lead.

Game two of the series is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday.