RADFORD RALLIES IN LATE INNINGS, BUT FALLS TO ST. JOHN’S 12-9 IN SERIES FINALE

BOX SCORE RADFORD, Va. – Josh Gardiner blasted a two-run homer and Radford made a late-innings rally, but St. John's scattered 16 hits en route to a series-clinching 12-9 win over Radford baseball on Sunday afternoon.

Radford scored eight runs in the sixth through ninth innings, highlighted by Gardiner's blast in the eighth, while St. John's tallied six runs. Ryan Burgess came close to making it two home runs in the inning, when his shot hit off the top of the wall in right-center and settled in at second for a double.

Gardiner led the Highlanders at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI while Burgess went 2-for-4 at the dish. Four players recorded two or more RBI for the Red Storm, led by Martin Kelly's 3-for-5 day and three RBI.

Ryan McCormick (1-2) picked up the win for St. John's (3-11) while Keith Fritz suffered the loss for the Highlanders (6-7).

Radford found its offensive groove in the sixth. With the bases loaded, St. John's catcher Frank Schwindel threw down to first base on a pickoff attempt. The first baseman relayed back home, but Zach Woolcock slid under the tag.

Gardiner reached on a fielder's choice and scored Nygeal Andrews. Following a Josh Reavis single and throwing error by the Red Storm shortstop, two more runs crossed the plate to cap the scoring for the inning.

St. John's got three runs on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth, all with two outs. Kyle Lombardo singled to left field and brought home two of the three runs in the innings. Sean O'Hare extended the lead back to five with an opposite-field solo homerun over the left-field fence in the top of the fifth.

The Highlanders got on the board in the bottom of the third. Shane Johnsonbaugh placed a deep sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Jeff Kemp to bring the score within four, 5-1.

With the bases full in the top of the second inning, Kelly pulled a ball down the left-field line for a standup double that brought in two runs. St. John's extended its lead, 5-1, on a single to left field by Schwindle that scored two. It was his third RBI of the game and fifth of the series.

Radford looked as if it would take its first lead of the day with the bases loaded in the first, but Ty Blankmeyer stopped a screeching line drive up the middle for the second out. An ensuing groundout ended the threat.

St. John's went up early, 1-0, after Pat Talbut led off with a double and scored off the bat of Schwindle later in the inning.

The Highlanders remain at home to host a two-game set with Iona beginning Tuesday, March 12. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.

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