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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Jonathan Gonzalez Hartford
2
Hartford HARTFORD 5-1
4
Winner Radford RAD 2-9
Hartford HARTFORD
5-1
2
Final
4
Radford RAD
2-9
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Hartford HARTFORD 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 6 2
Radford RAD 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 X 4 5 2

W: MacKeith, Mitchell (1-0) L: Murphy, Brian (1-1) S: Bridgeman, Daniel (1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

GONZALEZ COLLECTS THREE HITS AND TWO RBI IN 4-2 WIN OVER HARTFORD



GAME INFORMATION
  • Score: Radford 4, Hartford 2
  • Records: Radford (2-9) | Hartford (5-1)
  • Location: RU Baseball Stadium | Radford, Va.
                                      
RADFORD, Va. –  Jonathan Gonzalez led Radford with three hits and two RBI as the Highlanders avoided the series sweep with a 4-2 win versus Hartford, Sunday afternoon at RU Baseball Stadium.
 
For the third time in the series, Hartford scored first as Aaron Wilson led off the game with a single, advancing to third on a fielders' choice throwing error. Wilson later scored on a RBI groundout off the bat of Chris DelDebbio.
 
Radford starter Mitchell MacKeith settled down after the first inning run, allowing only one hit over the next three innings.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Zach Duff lined a single down the right field line. Gonzalez followed with his first hit as a Highlander, putting runners on the corners. A wild pitch from Hartford's starter Brian Murphy led to the Highlanders first run of the game as Duff crossed the plate, knotting the game at one.
 
MacKeith allowed a Hawks hit in the fifth and sixth innings, but worked out of jams, sending the Highlanders into the bottom half of the sixth tied a one.
 
Back-to-back walks by Shane Johnsonbaugh and Danny Hrbek led off the sixth inning. The duo advanced on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Duff, placing RU runners on second and third.
 
Swinging a hot bat, Gonzalez drilled a single down the left field line, scoring Johnsonbaugh and Hrbek easily to give Radford a 3-1 lead.
 
Hartford pulled within 3-2 of Radford in the top of the seventh on a Dalton Ruch safety squeeze, scoring Ben Bengston from third base.
 
Looking to add an insurance run, Johnsonbaugh led off the bottom of the eighth with a hit by pitch. Following two outs, Gonzalez collected his third hit on the day with a single to right. Gonzalez stole second base and a dancing Johnsonbaugh at third forced an errant throw by the Hawks catcher on an attempted pickoff, scoring Johnsonbaugh from third base. The error extended the RU lead to 4-2.
 
Daniel Bridgeman closed out the 4-2 win in the ninth inning, working around an error to earn his first save on the season.
 
Radford will return to action on Tuesday, traveling to Nashville, Tenn. for a NCAA regional rematch with Vanderbilt. The Highlanders and Commodores will play a quick two-game series with both games starting at 5 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. CT.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Win: Mitchell MacKeith (1-0)
  • Loss: Brian Murphy (1-1)
  • Save: Daniel Bridgeman (1)
  • With three hits, Jonathan Gonzalez is the third Highlander on the season to collect three hits.
  • Only managing five hits in the win, Danny Hrbek and Zach York picked up the other two RU hits.
  • Shane Johnsonbaugh was hit by two pitches on the day, a season high for a Highlander.
  • The two teams combined to leave 11 runners on base.
  • In three innings of relief, Radford's bullpen allowed only two hits and one run.
  • Bridgeman earned his fourth career save in the win.
  • Aaron Wilson led Hartford with two hits and one run scored.
  • A game time of 2:12 is the fastest nine-inning contest played by the Highlanders on the season.
QUOTABLE
  • "Mitchell [MacKeith] did what he always does, which is compete. He could have easily given up a couple of runs in the first inning after the error, but he made a big time pitch and struck out a guy to get out of the jam. Early errors and walks have come back to haunt us to start the season, we worked out of those situations today. Our bullpen was really good today, they came in and threw strikes, we need that kind of effort every time out. It was nice to see Gonzalez have the day he had. He is coming off an injury and we are force feeding him at bats. Today, Gonzalez got us going. "~ Radford head coach, Joe Raccuia

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