Bats Come Alive as Baseball Sets Season Highs in 15-11 Victory over JMU

RADFORD, Va. – Radford University’ bats came alive Wednesday afternoon at Dedmon Center Park as the Highlanders set season highs in runs (15) and hits (15) to down James Madison University 15-11 in non-conference baseball action. (Box Score)

Stuart Ritchie, Mark Fleisher, Ryan Wetzel and Shawn House each drove in three RBI apiece as Brian Williamson (1-2) stymied the Dukes bats, scattering seven hits and one run over 5.1 innings of strong relief to earn his first victory of 2003. Ritchie and Wetzel led RU with three hits each and Mark Fleisher belted his fourth home run in his last four games, and fifth homer in his last 10 to help the RU improve to 8-18 on the season.

The Dukes (19-17), who hit four home runs, were led by Travis Ebaugh with three hits, including a pair of solo home runs. Nathan Doyle added four hits in five trips including a home run and three RBI. Mitch Rigsby and Mike Butia each added three hits in a losing effort. Eddie Kim chipped in with a grand slam.

The teams combined for 14 hits and 18 hits through three innings, as JMU plated two runs in the top of the first. RU responded in their first at-bat with five runs, two came off Fleisher’s home run to left center and a pair came courtesy of Shaun House’s double to right-center.

James Madison would counter with five of their own in the top of the second. Kim’s towering grand slam to right center put JMU back in the driver’s seat 7-5 after one and a half innings. A Ryan Wetsel single up the middle in the Highlander second evened the game at 7-7. JMU added a single run in the top of the third on the second of Ebaugh’s solo home runs, but that would be the last time JMU would lead as RU plated three in the bottom of the third for a 10-8 lead.

RU starter Cory Koliscak, who lasted just 1.2 innings, allowed seven runs on nine hits. JMU starter Greg Nesbitt was also roughed up, allowing run runs on seven hits in 1.1 innings. Mitch Maley fell to 0-1 on the year allowing six hits and six runs over 2.1 innings of relief.