RADFORD, Va. - The Radford Baseball team capped off their home opening weekend Sunday afternoon with their second straight nineteen run game in a 19-3 final to win the series over Le Moyne at Carter Memorial Stadium.

Getting things started in the opening inning for the Highlanders 19-3 win over Le Moyne was Conner Butler, who would walk and advance to third off a double to center field by Zack Whitacre. Carson Bell would immediately follow up with a double to center field that would bring both Butler and Whitacre to home. Bell would come in around to score himself followed by Drew Biggerstaff who would score after a throwing error to make it a 4-0 lead at the end of the first.  

In the second, starting pitcher Jordan Irizarry would continue his great start after striking out the side in the first by retiring three batters straight to keep the Dolphins hitless in the first two frames. Butler would tack on another run for the Highlanders in the bottom of the second as he doubled to left field, stole third and found home once again on a throwing error. 

Moving to the fourth, Corbin Grantham would help extend the Highlander lead to 6-0 by grabbing a run of his own as he singled to right field, stole second, and scored off a Cameron Pittman single to right center which was Pittman's third RBI of the year. 

In the fifth the Highlanders would again add to their lead after a Ben Williams triple to right center and a Grantham single to left field opened the chance for Williams to score and make it 7-0 Radford. 

Heading to the sixth the Highlanders would add three runs to their lead. Zack Whitacre would triple to right center, and the bases would load up after two walks by Biggerstaff and Stalker. Williams would single center field to bring in Whitacre. Biggerstaff would find home on a passed ball and a Hunter Keen groundout would allow Stalker to reach home plate making the score 10-0 

In the top of the seventh Le Moyne would get their first runs of the day off a three-run home run to make things 10-3. The Highlanders, however, responded with an offensive explosion scoring eight in the bottom of the seventh. A Butler double to right would bring in Pittman for a run, Butler would score courtesy of Whitacre, and Biggerstaff would single to right field to bring in Whitacre. With the bases loaded, Williams would be hit by a pitch to allow Bell to comfortably reach home and a Hunter Keen grand slam would be the cherry on top make the score 18-3 heading to the eighth.

In the eighth, Jimmy Lovelace would draw a double play to keep the Dolphins from creating any more scoring chances. Radford would tack on one more run by Breckin Nace after a sacrifice fly by Garrett Pancione that would allow Nace to score the final run of the day for the Highlanders. 

Mason Self would end today's contest after he would retire two batters and striking out the final batter of the game to give the Highlander's the 19-3 win. 

 
NOTABLES 

• Highlighting the efforts for Radford in game three of the weekend was shortstop Hunter Keen, who went 3-for-5 recording three hits, one run and five RBIs 

• Jordan Irizarry who pitched in five innings, would strikeout six batters, allowing only three hits and two walks. 

• Conner Butler, Zack Whitacre, and Drew Biggerstaff all recorded three runs each for the Highlanders 

UP NEXT  
The Highlanders are back at Sherman Carter Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 3 P.M. to face Virginia Tech for the first midweek action of the 2024 season. 
 
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