BOX SCORE

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Radford got a two-run home run from Jeff Kemp, a three-run blast from Cory Turner, and the Highlanders stopped a three-game slide with a 12-3 win over Towson in the first game of the Wake Forest Invitational on Friday.

Kemp's homer, his third of the season and his first hit since opening weekend, gave the Highlanders (4-4) a 2-0 first inning lead that they didn't give up. Turner, hitting in the cleanup spot for the first time, added his first homer of the season with two outs in the top of the fifth to give Radford a 5-1 lead.

“Ever since early in the year we've been down early in games, so to get the start that we got with Kemp's two-run homer was important,” head coach Joe Raccuia said. “Then, to get Turner's two-out homer was a really important swing.”

Turner was 2-for-2, scoring three times and drawing three walks. Three other Radford hitters, including Kemp, had multi-hit days.

After Towson (3-5) rallied back with two in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 5-3 game, Ryan Burgess hit an RBI double in the eighth to spark a seven run swing over the final two innings.

Radford right-handed starter Eddie Butler earned his first win (1-0) of the season. Butler walked five hitters, but allowed only three runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings for the victory. Right-handed relievers Brad Wimmer and Jacob Palese held Towson scoreless for the final 3 2/3 innings.

“We still have to do a better job of throwing strikes and commanding the zone, but if you keep defending and getting timely hits, it's a good recipe for winning,” Raccuia said.

The Tigers had eight hits – Ben Winter had the only multi-hit afternoon, going 2-for-4.

Towson righty Sean Thompson was charged with the loss (0-2), giving up four runs (two earned) on two hits with five walks in 4 2/3 innings. Towson pitching walked 11 Radford hitters.

NOTE: Radford faces Fordham on Saturday in its second game at Wake Forest at 10 a.m. ... The game was moved up from noon to accomodate the possibility of bad weather on Sunday.