RADFORD, Va. — Behind a sensational performance from starter
Scott Rouse, the Radford Highlanders took down Iona 9-2 on Saturday evening at Carter Memorial Stadium, marking the first career win for head coach
Alex Guerra.
"It means a lot," Guerra said of the win. "Being the head coach here is humbling. You represent so many people in this program that came before me, that played in this program, my former teammates, guys that I coached. I'm just really proud of the way these guys played."
On the field, the story of the game was Rouse, who struck out 11 batters over five innings. Rouse surrendered only two earned runs — both on a two-run homer by Iona's Jake Field in the third inning — but neither one was earned. The junior from Parma Heights, Ohio allowed just four hits and walked only one batter.
"He did a great job," Guerra said of his starter. "He pounded the zone with four pitches, he attacked, he pitched with tremendous tempo. He was electric."
Radford (1-1) was clicking offensively, totaling 14 hits as a team, including three triples. The scoring got started in the bottom of the third, when right fielder
Zack Whitacre laced a line drive triple into center that scored
Cameron Pittman. After a sacrifice fly by
Julian Rojas tied the game, shortstop
Tristan Shoemaker checked in with a three-bagger of his own, giving the Highlanders the lead.
Whitacre went 2-for-5 in the win, also adding an RBI single in the fourth. The big blast came in the sixth inning off the bat of left fielder
Tanner Barrs. With two outs and two runners on, Barrs launched a moonshot over the right field wall, putting Radford ahead 9-2. It was the first home run of the season for Barrs, and the first longball for Radford as a team on the young season.
"Early on, we had some opportunities where we didn't cash in," Guerra said. "We just kept playing. The guys kept executing. We put ourselves in really good situations."
Eight different Highlanders recorded a base hit, including Shoemaker, who went 3-for-5 with two triples, and left fielder
Peyton Henry, who hit a pair of base knocks.
Iona (1-1) saw little offense after the home run by Field. The Gaels were held to five hits by Radford pitching, and none in the final three innings.
Foster Seitz made his season debut for the Highlanders, pitching two scoreless innings.
Luke Calveric also made his pitching debut for the home team, setting down the Gaels in order in the ninth inning.
KEY STATS
- Catcher Garrett Pancione and second baseman Sully Tibbs recorded their first hits in a Highlander uniform.
- Shoemaker is the first Highlander with two triples in a game since Matt Mack on May 18, 2010 against Marshall.
- Radford struck out 16 hitters as a team.
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