BOX SCORE

RADFORD, Va. – A go-ahead grand slam from Tyren Rivers in the sixth inning was the difference for Radford in a 9-5 non-conference win over North Carolina A&T on Wednesday afternoon.

Rivers' blast in the sixth was his team-leading fifth of the year and the second grand slam of his career, and came with no one out and Radford trailing 5-3.  He finished the day 2-for-4.

“A four-run hit is a game-changer,” head coach Joe Raccuia said. “ Ty isn't chasing bad pitches and he's taking a better approach at the plate as a result, and he was a big part of an offense that did its job today.”

The Highlanders had 14 hits, including 3-for-4 games from Brett Mollenhauer, who added a pair of RBIs, and Alex Guerra, who stole two bases.   The offense was buoyed by 5 2/3 innings of two-hit work from four relievers, led by 2 2/3 innings from Brad Wimmer, who picked up his third win of the season (3-1).

“Wimmer, Abram Williams, Bobby Bolling and Jason Patten came in and really threw well today,” Raccuia said.  “Off of the last weekend we had at High Point, we needed them to come in and keep their pitch counts down and stay fresh for the weekend.”

North Carolina A&T grabbed its early lead on the Highlanders with a three-run fourth, using Marquis Riley's single that drove home Xavier Macklin, who tripled on the previous play.  Two batters later, Ryan Carlton's bases-loaded single brought home a pair of runs, giving the Aggies a 5-2 lead.

Carlton and Riley finished the day with a pair of hits, along with Mark Nales, while Chris Couch led the Aggies, who had 12 hits, with a 3-for-4 game.

“That's a well-coached team that can really swing the bats,” Raccuia said.  

Radford struck first, when Raphael Turner, who has reached base in 27 straight games, singled home Reggie Keen for a 1-0 lead.  Matt Mack added a one-out RBI single two batters later to give Radford a 2-0 advantage.

The Highlanders added another run in the bottom of the fourth on Mollenhauer's one-out hit to close the game to 5-3, in favor of the Aggies.  Radford scored late runs to add to their lead on another Mollenhauer single in the seventh and when Cory Cook walked with the bases loaded in the eighth.

North Carolina A&T starter Jonathan Smith worked 5 1/3 innings in the loss (0-4).

The Highlanders resume Big South play this weekend, beginning on Friday with a nationally-televised (ESPNU) contest at Winthrop at 4:30 p.m.