Davidson Wins Hitfest Over Highlanders

RADFORD, Va. -- Davidson scored six runs in the third inning and held off a Radford rally to defeat the Highlanders 10-8 Wednesday afternoon at Dedmon Center Park. The teams combined for 27 hits in the non-Conference tilt. (Box Score)

Starter Josh Deaver (0-2) took the loss for Radford, allowing eight runs on eight hits while striking out two. Bobby DeMuro (1-0) earned his first win of the season for Davidson, throwing 2 2/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits. Rob Wilson picked up his first save of the year, allowing just one hit in the final inning and 2/3s to stave off the Highlander rally.

The Wildcats broke the game open in the third inning, scoring six runs on five hits. A single by third baseman Jay Heafner scored centerfielder Michael Muniz. First baseman Gregory Zage then tripled to centerfield, scoring Heafner and left fielder Andrew Musashe. Shortstop Eli Benefield followed with a two-run homer that scored Zage. Catcher Alex Entrekin’s solo home run gave Davidson back-to-back home runs and a 6-1 lead.

The Highlanders (5-17), who scored the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Mark Fleisher that sent centerfielder Steve Mignogna home, cut into the lead in the bottom of the third. RU’s three runs were sparked by a lead-off homer by right fielder Matt Mantione. Second baseman Alan Ashworth’s RBI-single bunt plated shortstop Ben Toth. Fleisher then doubled, scoring Mignogna.

Davidson (11-12) responded in the fourth with a single up the middle by second baseman Ronnie Shore that scored Muniz. A sac fly by Benefield sent Shore home to push the Wildcats’ lead out to four. Radford tallied one in the bottom of the fourth when a Mantione groundout scored designated hitter John Vellines.

Heafner hit a RBI-double in the sixth to score Musashe and Shore for Davidson’s final two runs. Radford tried to rally with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Fleisher hit his fourth home run of the year, hitting a two-run shot to score Ashworth. After a fly-out, left fielder Kellen Wohlford hit a dinger to right field to pull the Highlanders within two. RU was unable to catch Davidson, failing to add any more runs in the eighth or ninth.

Fleisher was 4-for-4 to lead Radford, tallying four RBI. Mignogna and Ashworth each had two hits while Mantione had two RBI. Zage and Muniz’ 3-for-4 performances paced the Wildcats with Zage collecting two RBI. Heafner and Benefield each had three RBI.

Radford heads to South Carolina for a three-game Big South series at Charleston Southern beginning Friday at 2:30 pm. Davidson will face Southern Conference foe Western Carolina Friday at home at 7:00 pm.