RADFORD, Va. — On the strength of a sturdy bullpen performance and one of the biggest offensive explosions of the year, the Radford baseball team swept Saturday's doubleheader against Hartford, winning game one 4-2 and taking the second game by a 13-2 final.
GAME ONE
The Highlanders (4-7) jumped out to an early lead in the first. With the bases loaded, first baseman
Tanner Barrs drove in shortshop
Tristan Shoemaker with a sacrifice fly. In the second inning, right fielder
Paul Moore provided some power, depositing a 436-foot home run to right field that gave Radford a 2-0 lead. Shoemaker would follow that up with an RBI single to extend the advantage.
In the third inning, designated hitter
Julian Rojas would join the home run party, smacking a solo blast to right center for a 4-0 lead.
Foster Seitz came on in relief for Radford and pitched 3.1 solid innings, allowing just one earned run with five strikeouts — a career-high — and no walks. He also earned his first win of the season.
Landon Higgerson would shut the door, pitching a scoreless sixth and seventh inning as the junior righthander earned the first save of his career.
GAME TWO
Despite an early 2-0 deficit, the Radford bats responded quickly, scoring two runs in the bottom half of the first thanks to RBI base knocks from Shoemaker and Rojas.
The second inning saw the home team take control, as the Highlanders struck for five runs. The inning was kickstarted by an RBI single from first baseman
Ryan Gilmore, who collected his first base hit and RBI of the season.
Shoemaker would follow that up with a bases-loaded walk, while Rojas was hit by a pitch to drive in a run. Left fielder
Peyton Henry rounded out the scoring with an RBI fielder's choice. It was the first of three RBI on the evening for Henry, who went 2-for-4 with a double and run scored.
Rojas paced Radford offensively, going 2-for-2 with four RBI. Center fielder
Zack Whitacre also had a productive day with the bat, hitting 3-for-5 with three runs scored.
Starter
Dylan Howard was masterful across five innings, striking out eight batters as he earned the win. Radford got four scoreless innings out of their bullpen between
Ty Burton,
Clay Clatterbaugh, and
Luke Calveric.
KEY STATS
- The 13 RBI and five doubles by Radford as a team in game two were a season-high.
- Shoemaker went 3-for-5 with three walks on the day.
- Burton pitched a scoreless inning in game two, making his nation-leading ninth appearance of the season.
UP NEXT
Radford will be back in action of the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Follow Radford Baseball on Social Media
For more updates on Radford Baseball, follow @RadfordBaseball on Twitter, 'radfordbaseball' on Instagram, or like Radford Baseball on Facebook.
