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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
7
Radford RAD 0-1
10
Winner Mercer MER 1-0
Radford RAD
0-1
7
Final
10
Mercer MER
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Radford RAD 1 0 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 7 13 3
Mercer MER 0 0 0 2 1 0 5 2 X 10 7 3

W: Lord (1-0) L: Trevvett, Miller (0-1) S: Lobus (1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

JOHNSONBAUGH HITS TWO HOME RUNS IN 10-7 SEASON OPENING LOSS TO MERCER



GAME INFORMATION
  • Score: Mercer 10, Radford 7
  • Records: Mercer (1-0) | Radford (0-1)
  • Location: Claude Smith Field | Macon, Ga.
                                      
MACON, Ga. – A two home run, three RBI effort from Shane Johnsonbaugh was not enough as Radford opened the 2016 season with a 10-7 loss to Mercer, Friday evening at Claude Smith Field.     
 
Johnsonbaugh started the Highlanders' 2016 campaign off with a bang, bashing a solo home run over the right field wall to give RU an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
 
The third inning saw Chris Coia leadoff with a single to leftfield, advancing to second base on a Luke Wise groundout and third base on a Colby Higgerson single. Johnsonbaugh came through again for RU, driving in Coia on a RBI sacrifice fly to centerfield, pushing the Highlanders lead to 2-0.
 
Mercer's offense finally started to click in the fourth inning. Kyle Lewis broke up Dylan Nelson's no-hitter with a double down the leftfield line and later scored on a Danny Hrbek throwing error. The Bears knotted the game at two on a Jackson Ware sac bunt, scoring Charlie Madden from third base.
 
Radford wrecked havoc on the base paths in the top of the fifth as a double steal by Higgerson and Johnsonbaugh forced a errant throw by the Bears catcher, plating Higgerson from third base to take a 3-2 lead
 
Answering the Highlanders once again, Ryan Hagan ripped a one-out RBI single to leftfield, scoring Matt Meeder from third base. The Hagan single tied the game at three after five innings.
 
The Highlanders looked to put the game out of reach in the sixth and seventh innings. The sixth inning was highlighted by a Coia RBI single and Mercer throwing error, scoring two runs. Johnsonbaugh gave Radford a 6-3 lead with his second home run of the evening, leading off the top of the seventh.
 
Radford's lead was short lived as Mercer scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh, earning three bases loaded walks to take an 8-6 lead. The Bears added two more runs in the eighth, extending their lead to 10-6.
 
Wise led off the ninth inning with a solo home run as the Highlanders attempted a comeback, but fell short as the Bears held on for a 10-7 series opening win.
 
Radford will return to action tomorrow versus Mercer with a 2 p.m. first pitch. Sophomore Zack Ridgely will take the hill for the Highlanders.
 
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INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Win: Austin Lord (1-0)
  • Loss: Miller Trevvett (0-1)
  • Save: Taylor Lobus (1)
  • Shane Johnsonbaugh collected his first career multi-home run game.
  • Luke Wise's ninth inning home run was the first of his Radford career.
  • Six Highlanders finished with two hits.
  • Giving Radford a strong start, Dylan Nelson threw five innings, allowing only three hits and one earned run.
  • Nelson did not allow a hit in 4.1 innings pitched, while striking out three batters.
  • Radford pitchers combined for nine walks, while hitting two batters.  

QUOTABLE
  • "We had the back third of the game where we wanted it, leading by three runs. We just didn't throw enough strikes out of the bullpen late in games, and we can't walk people like we did. Shane [Johnsonbaugh] came out of the gates swinging the bat well and we need that from him. We scored enough runs, even though our timing was off, which is due to not being able to get outside enough. Offensively, we had some guys come up with some big swings and execute in crucial situations." ~ Radford head coach, Joe Raccuia
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