HARRISONBURG, Va. – In a game that was much closer than the final score indicated, the Radford baseball program suffered a setback against James Madison by a 7-3 margin inside Veterans Memorial Park on Tuesday afternoon.
The non-conference clash was nothing but a battle through the first seven-plus innings and the Highlanders led 3-2 as the game headed into the bottom of the eighth. A five-run inning for the Dukes in the frame was enough for James Madison to escape with the 7-3 victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Radford – 3, James Madison – 7
LOCATION: Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park (Harrisonburg, Virginia)
RECORDS: Radford 1-3 (0-0 Big South), James Madison: 1-3 (0-0 Sun Belt)
THE BREAKDOWN
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Hunter Keen led the offensive attack for the Highlanders with a 2-for-5 effort that included a double and two RBI. The two RBI tied for the game-high in the contest. He also made three assists and had two putouts from his shortstop position.
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Eli Hudgins also had himself at outing with a 2-for-4 showing at the dish. He drove in Radford's other RBI on the afternoon.
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Jhonkeanu Perez stayed hot as the redshirt senior posted a triple and walked twice in the 1-for-3 performance overall. He also came around to score a run.
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Corbin Grantham and
Noah Toole also crossed the plate a single time each, respectively.
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Joshua Milleville got the start and put up four innings of work to go with four strikeouts. He allowed just three hits and one earned run in the strong effort.
- Radford struck right away as Perez led off the contest with a triple. Keen would drive him right home as the very next batter to make it a 1-0 game in the top of the first.
- The Highlanders got another one in the top of the second off a Hudgins RBI single up the middle that plated Toole to push Radford's lead to 2-0.
- James Madison responded with a run in both the bottom of the fourth and fifth to tie things at 2-2.
- Keen did it again as he drove a RBI double to right center that scored Grantham to give Radford a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh.
- The Dukes got five runs in the bottom of the eighth and were able to slam the door in the top of the ninth to collect their first win of the season.
NEXT UP
The Highlanders return to Radford for a home series against Quinnipiac, set for Saturday, February 22 and Sunday, February 23 at Sherman Carter Memorial Stadium. Due to inclement weather expected to hit the New River Valley, the original opener that was on Friday, February 21 has been moved to a doubleheader on Saturday. The original closing game on Sunday will remain in its original place.
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