Radford Bats Beat High Point

RADFORD, Va. -- Radford baseball set season-high marks in runs and hits in a 19-9 Big South Conference win over High Point Sunday afternoon at Dedmon Center Park.(Box Score)

Radford baseball set season-high marks in runs and hits in a 19-9 Big South Conference win over High Point Sunday afternoon at Dedmon Center Park.

Radford (10-24; 6-9 Big South) pounded out 22 hits in the game, eclipsing the mark of 21 set Friday versus the Panthers. Every RU starter had at least one hit and all but one tallied at least one RBI. First baseman Kellen Wohlford led RU with a 4-for-5 performance. Left fielder Jesse Ross was 2-for-3 with three RBI. Third baseman Aaron Ranft also had three RBI.

Starter Mark Fleisher (3-5) picked up the win for the Highlanders, allowing three runs, one earned, on four hits while striking out five batters.

RU opened its offensive onslaught in the first inning, scoring two runs on RBI singles by Fleisher and Ranft. After a scoreless second inning, the Panthers took the lead, scoring three runs in the top of the third. A RBI single by center fielder Chris Ramirez tallied the first run for HPU. Radford then walked in a run to tie the game. Left fielder Bobby Brown gave High Point the lead with a sacrifice fly.

The Highlanders came charging back in the bottom half of the inning, Ranft hit a two-RBI single through the left side. Shortstop David Landman then tripled, driving in Ranft. A sacrifice fly by right fielder Matt Mantione plated Landman. A double by center fielder Steve Mignogna and a single by second baseman Alan Ashworth each added a run.

Radford added three runs in the fourth Landman and Mantione each had RBI hits to drive in a run, and then Landman scored on a throwing error following a fielder’s choice by catcher Nachion Moore. RU added two more runs in the fifth on a single to center field by Ross that scored Wohlford and designated hitter Nate Toth.

The Highs scored three in the sixth when Ashworth’s sacrifice fly drove in right fielder Jonathan Spears and Toth pushed Moore across on a fielder’s choice. Ross added the last run of the inning with a RBI single up the middle.

High Point (17-22; 6-9) made it interesting in the top of the eighth inning, scoring five runs, including a grand slam by Jeremy Neyra, but Radford responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to turn away the rally. Pinch hitter Scott Hoar drove in Ashworth and shortstop Ben Toth singled to score Hoar and Wohlford.

HPU starter Brandon Moore (0-5) took the loss, allowing seven runs, five earned, on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings. Neyra led the Panthers at the plate with a 4-for-5 performance with five RBI.

Radford will face New River Valley rival Virginia Tech Wednesday at 7:00 pm under the lights at English Field. High Point will host Gardner-Webb Tuesday at 3:00 pm.