CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Radford Baseball team routed Queens 22-5 on Wednesday night at The Stick Williams Dream Fields to record their first game with 20 or more runs since 2019.

In the second inning of tonight's game, the Highlanders quickly jumped ahead of the Royals. Getting us started would be Hunter Keen as he would single to left field. Breckin Nace would follow up with a single through the right side and advance Keen to third while a wild pitch moved Nace to second. A walk by Pittman would finally load the bases. Conner Butler would be the one to deliver the grand slam, giving the Highlanders the four-run lead. Irizarry would hold Queens scoreless in the inning as he was able to quickly retire the side, sending the game to the third inning. For the third, the Highlanders were able to add two more runs to their lead. A sacrifice fly by Nace would score Zack Whitacre and Pancione would single to center field to score Keen for the second run of the inning and push the Highlander lead to 6-0.  

In the fourth, the Highlanders would make it a double-digit lead after scoring four in the inning. Stalker would single through the right side to score Carson Bell, Keen would reach first off a fielder's choice which would advance Whitacre to third and a throwing error opened the opportunity for Whitacre to find home plate. Pancione would ground out to the shortstop, but would drive in Keen and give Pancione the RBI. A double to left field by Troutman would drag in Nace for the final run of the inning for the Highlanders. The Royals would get two runs back, putting up one run in the fourth and another in the fifth cut the deficit to 10-2. In the sixth, the Highlanders would get one back after Keen was able to score off a wild pitch. But the Royals chipped away at the Radford lead once more, putting up three runs to cut the lead to 11-5 heading into the seventh. 

In the seventh, Stalker grounded out to second base but that gave Bell the chance to find home again to make it 12-5. For the eighth, the Highlanders continued to pour in the runs securing three in the inning. Pancione would homer to left field to bring in the first run of the inning, Ben Williams, who pinched hit for Butler, would ground out to the Queens shortstop allowing Troutman to scurry home. Pittman would secure his run off a wild pitch to give the Highlanders the 15-5 lead. 

In the ninth inning, the Highlander would top things off scoring seven runs. Nace would single through the right side to score Stalker and Keen would bring in the second run of the inning off of Queens' second throwing error of the evening. Nace and Bell would both easily head to home plate off two bases loaded walks. Whitacre would double down the left field line to score Pittman and Williams and a sacrifice fly by Stalker would be the final touch for the Highlanders to rout Queens 22-5 in this evening's midweek 

NOTABLES  

• Garrett Pancione's home run makes it his first of the season and the third of his career. 

• The last time the Highlanders had a 20 or more run game was back against Winthrop on March 30, 2019 where the Highlanders scored 20. 

• Butler recorded his second grand slam of the season and his seventh home run of the season.

• Irizarry recorded his second win of the season. 

• The Highlanders broke the program record for most walks in a single game with 15. The previous record was 14 against Longwood April 6, 2018 and May 3, 2015 against James Madison.

• Hunter Keen also tied the program record of most runs in a game with five. The last person to achieve the feat was Ben Williams who did it against Le Moyne back on February 23, 2024 

UP NEXT   
The Highlanders will head back home to Carter Memorial to face Gardner-Webb for a conference weekend series. Game one of the series will be played on Friday, Apr. 26. and is currently set for a 6 P.M. start. 
 
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