GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX

RADFORD, Va. – Radford improved to 8-0 at home this season, sweeping a non-conference doubleheader from Siena on Saturday with a 14-5 game one win and a 4-3 seven-inning win in the second game.

The Highlanders got a 5-for-7 performance with five RBIs from Raphael Turner, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games.  Turner hit a three-run first inning homer in the first game, giving Radford the lead for good.  Tyren Rivers went 4-for-9, driving in three and adding a two-run blast in the first game.

“We pitched well, played defense well, ran the bases effectively, and played a a couple of good games,” head coach Joe Raccuia said.  “We're a really good club at home, if we can translate that to what we do on the road, we can be a really good club.”

Siena was led by a solo homer in each game from Dan Paolini, who had three hits.  Paolini upped his total to 10 home runs in 2010.

GAME 1: RADFORD 14, SIENA 5
Radford hit a season-high three homers and plated eight runs in the second inning on the way to a win over Siena in the first game.

Turner, Rivers and Alex Guerra all went deep for the Highlanders.  Turner's three-run shot in the bottom of the first got Radford on the board after Siena hit a pair of back-to-back two-out homers in the top half.

In the second, Rivers and Guerra were part of the eight-run inning as Rivers hit a two-run blast that gave the Highlanders a 7-2 lead, and Guerra hit a three-run homer with two outs to extend Radford's lead to 11-2.

Guerra's home run was the first of his collegiate career.

“All day, we hit in advantage counts,” Raccuia said.  “3-0 counts, 2-0 counts, which is what you're supposed to do.  When you get the opportunity to drive the ball, you take it.

“It's good to see swings that drive in multiple runs, and we haven't seen that.  That can really boost a team's confidence.”

Right-handed starter Aerik Taylor picked up his second win of the season (2-0), allowing three earned runs in 6 1/3 innings, striking out five.  Justin Brantley was charged with the loss for Siena (2-4), allowing seven earned runs in an inning and a third.

GAME 2: RADFORD 4, SIENA 3
Right-handed starter Eddie Butler went six innings to earn his fourth win of the season, leading the Highlanders to a doubleheader sweep.
 
Butler (4-0), who allowed just one earned run on four hits, struck out six to stay perfect in his freshman campaign.   In the sixth inning, Butler had to escape to preserve the win, when Paolini singled to lead off and stole second, putting the tying run at second base with the Saints down 4-3.  Butler retired the next three hitters in order, getting the last two on 3-2 pitches, to keep the lead for the Highlanders.

“Eddie's been the guy that's been getting a lot of offensive support, but today he didn't have a ton of runs to work with,” Raccuia said.  “He really wanted to stay in there in the sixth, he thought his stuff was good, and he really needed to pitch through that.  It was a crucial part of the game and what he did is part of the maturity process that he's going through.”

Jason Patten worked a perfect seventh to earn the save (3) and earn the 12th of his career, tying him with Ryan Speier (1998-01) for third all-time.

With the score tied at 1-1 in the third inning, the Highlanders loaded the bases with no one out, eventually bringing all three runners home.   Reggie Keen gave Radford a 4-1 lead when he scored on a throwing error by the catcher with two outs when Matt Mack stole second.