SEASON OPENING SERIES AT JACKSONVILLE BELONGS TO HIGHLANDERS

BOX SCORE JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Radford (2-1) exploded for eight fourth-inning runs Sunday highlighted by Jeff Kemp's two-run homer and cruised to an 11-5 victory in the deciding game of the season-opening series at Jacksonville (1-2).

After staking itself to a 1-0 lead on an unearned run in the second, Radford trailed 2-1 after JU's Jake Huxtable hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third to give the Dolphins the lead.

For the second time in as many days, the Highlanders responded to losing an early lead with an impressive rally to put the game away.

Patrick Marshall led off the eight-run rally with a single to right field and stole second base. With one out, Hunter Higgerson drew a walk, and Josh Reavis singled home Marshall. Chris Coia's single then plated Higgerson setting up a two-run double from Josh Gardiner. Blake Sipe's sacrifice fly scored the fifth run of the inning.

All of this happened before Kemp's blast made it 8-2. The Highlanders would add another unearned run without the benefit of another hit. In all, the Highlanders left the top of the fourth with 8 runs, 5 hits, 3 Dolphin errors, and 2 runners left on base.

The big lead was a welcome sight to starter Keith Fritz (1-0). Fritz worked 6.0 innings giving up four hits and two runs in the victory. He struck out six and didn't allow a walk. Oliver Powers, Ryan Meisinger, and Chase Lemaster each recorded a single inning in relief. Powers worked a scoreless seventh, while Mesinger gave up a single run on one hit in the eighth, and Lemaster allowed a pair of runs on a pair of hits in the ninth.

The Highlanders already led 9-2 before adding a couple insurance runs in the sixth. Zack Woolcock opened the inning drawing a base on balls. Alexander Lee singled and both moved into scoring position on Higgerson's sacrifice. Reavis knocked in both runs with a single to right field.

Reavis, Sipe, and Lee each finished with two hits as RU recorded 11 as a team. Reavis led the team with four RBI, and Sipe and Lee recorded a triple and a double, respectively. Kemp, Marshall, Higgerson, and Ryan Burgess all notched a stolen base as well.

Defensively, the Highlanders were errorless for the second straight game and allowed just eight hits on the afternoon.

Radford returns home to host Liberty in a non-conference game on Tuesday in the home-opener for the Highlanders. First pitch is set for 3:30 from the RU Baseball Field.

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