RADFORD, Va. – Well. That didn't take long.
 
The Radford baseball program returned right back to its winning ways as the Highlanders out slugged VMI, 12-5 in a mid-week, non-conference battle at Sherman Carter Memorial Stadium on Wednesday night.
 
With the win, Radford collected its 21st victory of the season, the most since the 2021 campaign. The Highlanders are now just two wins away from matching that squad for the most wins in a year since 2019.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Radford – 12, VMI – 5
LOCATION: Sherman Carter Memorial Stadium
RECORDS: Radford 21-20 (8-7), VMI 25-17 (5-7)
 
THE BREAKDOWN
- Breckin Nace celebrated his birthday in style as he had a career night with five runs batted in. He went 3-for-5 overall to go with a home run, two runs scored and a double.
- James Ward had another huge game with a 3-for-4 performance that included one RBI, two runs scored and a two-bagger.
- Eli Hudgins finished second on the team with two runs batted in off a 1-for-4 effort. He also scored a run and swiped a bag in the win.
- Tyler Sparrer (2-for-5, one run scored), Brady Powell (2-for-3, one run, one steal) and Mason Self (2-for-4, one run scored) also knocked in a RBI for the Highlanders, respectively.
- Both Carter Richardson and Corbin Grantham made their at-bat count. The duo finished a perfect 1-for-1 with a run scored. Richardson also stole a bag while Grantham hustled around the bases for a triple.
- Despite the four runs allowed overall, only two were earned against the Radford pitching staff.
- Noah Toole started the game and fired four frames with three strikeouts and just three hits allowed. Both of his runs against were unearned.
- Will Rice picked up his first win of the season with a scoreless frame.
- Matthew Lefevers and Andrew Steinhaus teamed up to close out the game. The duo allowed no earned runs to go with just a single hit allowed. Lefevers recorded four punch outs while Steinhaus added two.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Radford once again got right out of the gates as Nace sent a towering two-run bomb over the left field fence to give the Highlanders the quick 2-0 edge in the bottom of the first.
- VMI responded with two runs in the top of the second to tie the game and another two in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead.
- The Highlanders weren't having that as the squad responded with an eight-spot in the bottom of the fourth. Powell (one), Self (one), Hudgins (one), Nace (three), Ward (one) and Sparrer (one) all knocked in runs for Radford. The Highlanders sent 12 batters to the plate in the frame.
- Things would cool down from there as the Keydets would score once in the fifth, but Radford would get it back and more with one in the seventh and another in the eighth to close out the blowout victory.
 
NEXT UP
Radford hits the road for a crucial Big South series against UNC Asheville this weekend. The three-game set will get underway on Friday, April 25 at Greenwood Baseball Field. First pitch for the opener is set for 5 PM ET and the contest will be played in front of a national audience on ESPN+.

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