Radford Holds Off Liberty Rally

LYNCHBURG, Va. -- The Radford Highlanders jumped out to a 5-0 lead and then withstood a Liberty rally behind three home runs, to upend the Flames, 5-4, Friday afternoon at Worthington Stadium in the opening game of a three-game Big South series. (Box Score)

Radford opened the game with two runs in the first inning. Jesse Ross would be hit by a pitch to lead off the game and move to second on a walk to the next batter Alan Ashworth. Both would advance on a pass ball and Ross would score the game’s first run on a wild pitch. Ashworth then scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Kellen Wohlford.

The Highlanders extended their lead to 5-0 in the third inning. Ross beat out an infield single down the third base line and Ashworth followed with single to open the inning. Pitcher Mark Fleisher then singled deep into the hole at short, allowing Ross to score. After a sacrifice bunt moved runners to second and third, Nate Toth grounded out to short would plate the inning’s second run. Jonathan Spears then followed with a RBI single to left field.

After being held scoreless by Fleisher through five, the Flames would cut the lead to 5-2 in the sixth inning. With one out, Aaron Grijalva (r-Fr., 1B, Redlands, Calif.) walked. Phillip Laurent (Jr., LF, Cantrall, Ill.) then put the Flames on the score board with a towering home run over the center field wall. The two-run homer was Laurent’s fifth of the season.

Liberty closed the gap to one in the eighth inning. Grijalva would hit his team-leading ninth home run of the season to left field, a solo shot for the Flames’ third run of the afternoon. Laurent, then jumped on the next pitch for his second round tripper of the game and sixth of the season, a solo shot to right center. It was the third time this season; the Flames have connected on back-to-back home runs.

In the ninth inning, Liberty would mount a threat as Patrick Gaillard (So., SS, Taylors, S.C.) would reach on an infield single and steal second with two outs, only to have Radford relief pitcher Corey Koliscak retire the next Flame to preserve the 5-4 win.

With the victory, Radford moves to 7-12 in the Big South Conference and 13-32 overall, while the Flames fall to 9-10 in the Big South and 27-17 overall.

Liberty starter Michael Solbach (r-Fr., RHP, Woodbridge, Va.) pitched eight innings, allowing five runs, three earned, on 10 hits, while striking out five and walking two. He falls to 7-3 on the season with the loss. Tim John (So., RHP, Linwood, N.J.) faced one batter in ninth inning, giving way to Ryan Page (Fr., LHP, Cranberry Twp., Pa.) who retired all three batters he faced. Fleisher picked up the win for Radford, allowing four runs on seven hits, striking out two and walking one in 7 1/3 innings. He runs his record to 4-7. Koliscak retired five of the six batters in allowing one hit in 1 2/3 innings to earn his third save of the season.

Laurent went 3-for-4 on the afternoon with two home runs and along with Gaillard were the only two Flames with multiple hits in the game. Fleisher and Matt Mantione had two hits a piece for the Highlanders.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow afternoon in the middle game of the series. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.