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3
Radford RAD 14-34
4
Winner VMI VMI 19-30
Radford RAD
14-34
3
Final
4
VMI VMI
19-30
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Radford RAD 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 7 1
VMI VMI 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 4 4 0

W: Taylor Edens (3-4) L: Ross, Austin (0-6)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Jordan Childress

RADFORD FALLS 4-3 TO VMI IN WILD NINTH INNING



GAME INFORMATION
  • Score: VMI 4, Radford 3
  • Records: VMI (19-30) | Radford (14-34)
  • Location: Gray-Minor Stadium | Lexington, Va.
                                      
LEXINGTON, Va. – Trailing 3-2 in the ninth inning, Radford battled back to tie the game, eventually dropping the contest 4-3 to VMI on a bases loaded wild pitch in the bottom half of the inning. The Highlanders held VMI scoreless for the first six frames, before the Keydets scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Down to their last out in the ninth, Chandler Davis started the RU rally with a hit by pitch. Jordan Taylor came on to pinch run for Davis. Pinch hitter Nygeal Andrews followed with a hit-and-run single up the middle, putting runners on the corners.
 
In a must score situation, Chris Coia ripped a double down the left field line, scoring Taylor easily. Andrews was held up at third base on a strong throw by Matt Pita in left field. With two runners in scoring position, Colby Higgerson grounded out to end the RU threat.
 
The bottom of the inning saw Austin Ross hit Matt Dunlevy to start the inning. Dunlevy would move on to second on a failed pickoff attempt by Ross. Peyton Maddox laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing Dunlevy to third base. The Highlanders elected to intentionally walk Tyler Tharp to set up a double play situation. With runners on the corners, Jacob Jaye walked to load the bases full of Keydets.
 
Head coach Joe Raccuia brought in an extra infielder from the outfield as the Highlanders looked to keep the ball in the infield. The extra fielder would not be needed as a Ross wild pitch allowed Dunlevy to trot home for the walk off series sweeping win.  
 
Radford would jump on VMI after two scoreless frames to begin the ballgame as Davis collected the first Highlander hit on a single to left field. Following a Luke Wise fly out,Coia poked a single into right field to put runners on first and second. Higgerson caught the Keydet defense sleeping, laying down a bunt single to load the bases.
 
With one out and the bases loaded, Danny Hrbek stepped up to the dish. Down in the count 1-2, Hrbek grounded into a fielders' choice, scoring Davis from third for the first run of the ballgame.
 
The Highlanders began the fourth inning the same way they did the third, loading the bases with one out. Jonathan Gonzalez led off the inning with a single down the left field line. Adam Whitacre flied out to left on a spectacular sliding catch by Pita. Matt Roth earned a four-pitch walk after the Whitacre fly out. Davis collected his second consecutive hit with a single off of the body of Collin Fleischer at first base to load the bases.
 
Wise received a prime RBI opportunity with the bases loaded and one out. The center fielder put up a battle in the eight-pitch plate appearance, fouling off four straight pitches before lifting a deep fly ball to left-center field. The Wise sac fly allowed Gonzalez to score easily from third base as Radford took a 2-0 lead.
 
Radford pitchers' shutout the Keydets for the first six innings, before David Geary launched a solo blast to right field off Kyle Zurak, cutting the Highlander lead to 2-1.
 
The home run sparked a VMI rally as Fleischer followed with a single to left field and Pita walked to put two runners on base with no outs. A wild pitch allowed the two runners to advance for Matt Dunlevy.
 
Dunlevy knotted the game at two on a RBI groundout and the Keydets took their first lead on a Zurak wild pitch. The inning saw VMI take a 3-2 lead on two hits and two wild pitches.
 
The three run seventh inning set up an opportunity for the Keydets to earn a chance to win the final frame.
 
The Highlanders step back in to Big South play on Friday, traveling to in-state foe Liberty for a three-game series. The action is slated for a 7 p.m. first pitch.  
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Win: Taylor Edens (3-4) (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1R/1ER, 1 BB, 1 K)
  • Loss: Austin Ross (0-6) (1.0 IP, 0 H, 1R/1ER, 4 BB, 1 K)
  • Travis McQueen, Mack Krupp and Miller Trevvett combined for five scoreless innings to start the game. The trio combined for six strikeouts.
  • Krupp struck out three batters in two innings of relief, matching a career high in both categories.
  • Chandler Davis paced the Highlanders with a 2 for 2 performance. Davis reached base in all four plate appearances.
  • The two-hit performance is the fourth multi-hit game on the season for Davis.
  • Danny Hrbek picked up his team leading 24th RBI with the third inning fielders' choice.
  • Luke Wise has now driven in three runs in the last four games.
  • Earning the start at second base, Chris Coia tied the program record for games played in a Highlander uniform with his 217 appearance.
  • Coia collected two hits and has 198 career hits.
  • VMI only managed four hits, marking the fifth time Radford pitchers have held opponents under five hits on the season.
  • RU pitchers combined for four wild pitches with VMI scoring two runs off errant pitches.
  • In the series, VMI scored 10 runs in the seventh inning.

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