SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Radford rallied from down 7-1 following the second inning, using five relief innings from Paul DeVito and home runs from Raphael Turner and Andrew Cook, on the way to an 11-10 win over Gardner-Webb in the first game of a Big South baseball series on Friday.

The Highlanders (27-21, 14-8 Big South) responded to a six-run second inning for the Bulldogs (22-26, 8-14) with a 10-3 scoring streak to win their fourth consecutive Big South game.

DeVito worked five innings of middle relief on the way to his second win of the season (2-3), surrendering just one run on one hit.  He retired the side in order four times, including a string of 10 consecutive to conclude his afternoon.

“Paul DeVito has been in that role before, and last year in the conference tournament he helped us win a game against Coastal [Carolina] the same way,” head coach Joe Raccuia said.  

“We came out like it wasn't a critical game in a critical series, but after talking to the guys early, they got the memo.”

Offensively, Radford was lifted by Turner's three-run blast in the fourth, capping a four-run inning and making it a 8-6 lead for Gardner-Webb, and Cook's two-run homer in the ninth, giving the Highlanders needed insurance after they took a 9-8 lead in the eighth.

Hitters three through seven in the Radford order went 11-for-21 with two home runs and 10 RBIs.  Turner and Cook drove in three runs each, while Matt Mack and Brett Mollenhauer, the number nine hitter, went 3-for-5.

“You win when your three through seven guys get 11 hits, and they get those RBIs like they did,” Raccuia said.  “When Cook, [Matt] Hillsinger, Turner, [Alex] Guerra and Mack get it going, you have a chance to be an offensive power.”

Gardner-Webb had 16 hits, including a 4-for-5 afternoon from Aaron Miller.  Ty Boyles was 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including two on a double in the six-run second for the Bulldogs.

In its big second inning, Gardner-Webb's first six batters hit their way on and Daniel Merck hit a three-run blast, his first of the season, with no one out to make it a 5-1 lead for the Bulldogs.  Radford starter Aerik Taylor was chased from the game in the second, lasting an inning and a third, but the Highlanders held the Bulldogs at bay the rest of the way.  

“Aerik got snake bitten early, and those nights happen,” Raccuia said.  “But when your Friday night guy gets knocked out early and you still win, it's a great day.”

While Radford's pitching staff kept Gardner-Webb hitters off the bases from the fourth through the ninth innings, the offense went to work, including a four-run fifth highlighted by Turner's homer.   The Highlanders got two more with back-to-back RBI singles by Mack and Hillsinger in the seventh, and got their first lead of the day in the eighth on a line drive single to left field with two outs by Guerra, scoring Mollenhauer to make a 9-8 Radford lead.

Following Cook's homer in the ninth, Gardner-Webb got a pair of runs in the bottom half, including Boyles' two-out single that made it a one-run lead.  Jason Patten came on and got O.J. McFarland to end the game and earn the save (4).

Jeff Howell worked the final four innings, allowing five runs on eight hits, and was charged with the loss (2-4).

Friday's game was played at Russell King Field at Wofford College – the remainder of the series will be played at McNair Field in Forest City, N.C.

The two teams will attempt to play a doubleheader on Saturday, with the threat of rain in the forecast on Sunday.  First pitch for the two nine inning games is set for 1 p.m.