RADFORD, Va. — The Radford baseball team erased an early five-run deficit in the second inning, but their offense was unable to get over the hump as the Highlanders fell to James Madison 8-6 on Tuesday afternoon at Carter Memorial Stadium.
James Madison took an early lead, scoring three runs in the first inning on Radford starter
Ty Burton. The Highlanders (7-14) were able to scratch across a run in the home half of the frame, as DH
Julian Rojas doubled to drive in
Zack Whitacre.
In the ensuing half-inning, the Dukes (13-9) struck again, this time with a three-run homer off the bat of Fenwick Trimble which gave the visitors a 6-1 lead.
That was when the Radford bats went to work. The Highlanders struck for five runs and fits in the second inning, kickstarted by an RBI single from
Miles LeVere. With the bases loaded, second baseman
Avery Spencer then reached on a throwing error by JMU's third baseman, allowing two more runs to score and cutting the deficit to 6-4.
The big blast came from Whitacre, who who tripled to right field and drove in Spencer. Whitacre then came in on a sacrifice fly by
Sully Tibbs, tying the game at 6-apiece.
From there, the game was a pitcher's duel, as neither team scored for the next four innings. The deciding hit came in the seventh inning, when JMU's Jaylon Lee hit a two-run homer to give the Dukes an 8-6 advantage.
Radford struck for several hits the rest of the way, but was unable to cross home plate. Whitacre went 2-for-4 with two runs, a walk, and an RBI. Catcher
Garrett Pancione also had a pair of hits.
The game marked a reunion between Radford head coach
Alex Guerra and his former ballclub, Guerra having spent seven years as an assistant at JMU from 2016-22.
KEY STATS
- Radford got a pair of two-inning scoreless performances from relievers Foster Seitz and Landon Higgerson.
- Right fielder Paul Moore went 2-for-4.
- The Highlanders' pitching staff struck out nine batters and walked only two.
UP NEXT
Radford will have two days off before gearing up for the Big South opener against Campbell on Friday. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at Carter Memorial Stadium, with the game being streamed on ESPN+.
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