BOX SCORE

RADFORD, Va. – Tyren Rivers went 3-for-5, blasting his fourth home run of the season, and Paul DeVito threw four scoreless innings as Radford rolled past Longwood, 8-2, on Wednesday afternoon.

Rivers reached base safely in all five at-bats for the Highlanders (15-16), with a third-inning home run, two singles and three runs scored.  His four stolen bases tied a school record held by Jeff Cooper, who set the mark against Bluefield State on April 28, 1986.  

“Obviously, Ty was outstanding for us today,” head coach Joe Raccuia said.  “If he continues to put balls in play, he makes our team go.  That's something he needs to continue doing, and use his speed on the bases.”

DeVito (1-2) earned the win for the Highlanders, going four innings in a scheduled 50-pitch start. Shane Pysh threw five relief innings to close out the game, earning the first save of his career.  

“DeVito came back strong from an injury for us, and threw outstanding,” Raccuia said.  “The goose eggs from him were important and Pysh made just the one mistake.  Those two guys threw great.”

Raphael Turner went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and scored two runs.  Matt Hillsinger was also solid at the plate, turning in a 2-for-3 outing.

For Longwood (17-15), Brant Jones went 2-for-5 with a run scored and connected on a solo shot to left field in the fifth inning.  Casey Havers went 2-for-3 at the plate, scoring the other fifth-inning run for the Lancers.

Longwood threatened in the first inning, loading the bases, but a fly out by Kimble to right center ended the top half.  

In the bottom of the inning, Rivers led off with a single through the left side for the Highlanders.  He later stole two bases and scored on a chopper back to the pitcher by Turner, giving Radford a 1-0 lead.  

Phil Bondi went deep for his first career home run to left field in the bottom of the fourth to give the Highlanders a 3-0 lead.  

Down three runs in the fifth inning, Jones got the Lancers on the board with a solo homer to right field, making it a 3-1 game.  Later in the inning, a sacrifice bunt by Michael Sims moved the runners to second and third.  Scott Kimble's deep sacrifice fly to left center scored Casey Havers to bring the Lancers within a run, at 3-2.

Radford answered in the home half with four, as Hillsinger singled to left field with two on and nobody out, scoring Rivers all the way from second.  On the next play, Turner doubled to the warning track to right center to bring home two more, extending Radford's lead to 6-2.

The Highlanders will travel to High Point for a three-game weekend series with the Panthers beginning Friday.