RADFORD, Va. – Zack Whitacre collected four hits, including the game-tying single in the sixth inning, as the Radford baseball team earned a comeback win over Maryland Eastern Shore by the score of 9-6 on Sunday afternoon.
With the win, the Highlanders (4-7) took the series from The Shore two games to one, earning their first series victory of the year.
Whitacre certainly made his presence known in the Radford lineup, reaching base in all five of his plate appearances while scoring three runs and a career-high four hits. The Highlanders' third baseman drew a walk in the first inning and singled to left in the third, though he was stranded.
In the fifth inning, with his team trailing 5-1, Whitacre singled again. This time, he was driven in on a double by catcher
Julian Rojas that plated two runs, cutting the deficit in half.
Two batters later, right fielder
Paul Moore checked in with an RBI single that drove in Rojas, trimming the Hawks' advantage to 5-4. It was part of a three-run, four-hit inning for the Highlanders.
The offense barrage continued into the home half of the sixth. With one out and runners at second and third, Whitacre rocketed a single up the middle that scored
Adam Morris. The ball was misplayed by the center fielder, allowing
Cameron Pittman to trot home as well, evening the score at six. After a walk to shortstop
David Bryant, Rojas again came through, lofting a sacrifice fly to right field that gave Radford a 7-6 lead.
The Highlanders were able to rough up Maryland Eastern Shore starter Evan Nibblett, who was tagged for six earned runs over 5.1 innings. The scoring started in the bottom of the second, when second baseman
Ty Dooley hit an RBI double that drove in Moore.
But The Shore (1-10) had the counter, scoring a pair of runs on a double by center fielder Brian Widdowson. He repeated that same feat in the fifth, recording another two-bagger for his third and fourth RBI of the day, giving his team a four-run lead in the process.
But after that, it was all Radford, as the home team tallied eight runs on eight hits over the final four innings to seal a come-from-behind victory.
Ty Burton (1-0) was credited with the win, as the senior right hander pitched a scoreless sixth inning just before Radford took the lead for good.
Foster Seitz then came in to close the door, retiring seven Hawks while walking none to earn the save.
NOTABLE STATS
- Rojas had another three-RBI day. He now has six RBI in his last three games.
- Dooley went 2-for-4 with a run.
- Radford was able to win despite committing four errors.
UP NEXT
Radford will take on Holy Cross for a midweek game on Monday. First pitch is now slated for Noon.
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