RADFORD, Va. — Righthanded pitcher
Ty Burton set down a potent VMI lineup across 5.1 innings, while center fielder
Zack Whitacre drove in three runs, as the Radford baseball team defeated VMI 9-8 on Friday evening at Carter Memorial Stadium.
Burton entered the game in the top of the fourth inning, taking over in relief of starter
Dylan Howard. The LaBella, Fla. native got out of a jam early, inducing a pair of strikeouts to strand a runner at third and preserve a 6-5 Radford lead.
From there, Burton was lights out, recording 16 outs while allowing only two unearned runs. The senior also recorded a career-high eight strikeouts in what was his nation-leading 11th relief appearance of the season.
Radford (6-8) got off to a quick start with the bats, striking for two runs in the first inning thanks to RBI groundouts from catcher
Garrett Pancione and DH
Julian Rojas. Later in the third inning, the Highlanders exploded for four runs. First baseman
Tanner Barrs and left fielder
Peyton Henry went back-to-back with RBI singles, setting the stage for
Avery Spencer, who mashed a two-run triple down the right field line that gave his team a 6-0 lead.
But VMI (9-6) had a response, tallying six runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game. However, once Burton shut the door, Whitacre would give his team the lead right back in the home half of the frame, launching a solo home run to right field that made it 7-6.
Whitacre later added a two-run single in the fifth inning, giving the Highlanders a 9-6 advantage. For the day, the senior was 3-for-4 with three RBI and six total bases.
Things got tense in the ninth inning. After the Keydets scored a pair of runs, righthander
Zack Mallia came into the game with two outs and the bases loaded. Mallia was able to induce a ground ball fielder's choice to seal the win, earning his second save of the year in the process.
Henry was 3-for-4 in the winning effort for Radford, while third baseman
Avery Spencer went 2-for-2.
KEY STATS
- With a two-hit performance, Rojas extended his hitting streak to six games.
- Seven different Highlanders scored a run.
- Radford beat VMI for the eighth straight time, extending a streak dating back to 2017.
UP NEXT
The two former Big South rivals will conclude the series tomorrow with a doubleheader in Lexington. The first game will start at 1 p.m. and will be seven innings, with a nine-inning game to follow shortly thereafter.
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