Wildcats Defeat Radford

DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Senior Michael Muniz drove in two runs, one on his 10th home run of the season, and four Wildcat pitchers held visiting Radford to one run on six hits to give Davidson a 6-1 victory on Tuesday afternoon at Wilson Field. The Wildcats have won seven of their last nine to improve to 26-21 on the year, while the Highlanders fell to 13-35. (Box Score)

The Wildcats got on the board in the first thanks to a two-out walk to junior Jay Heafner, who promptly stole second and then scored on sophomore Gregory Zage’s single up the middle. The following inning, junior Taylor Shoop led off with a line-drive double to right and scored one out later on a Muniz single for a 2-0 lead.

Davidson freshman Zac Long, meanwhile, cruised through the first five innings, allowing just one hit and one walk, both of which were erased on the basepaths. But a pair of seeing-eye grounders and a bunt single by Jesse Ross gave Radford a run in the sixth. The Wildcats escaped further damage when freshman Brant West relieved with the bases loaded and got the final out looking at strike three.

After those solitary runs in the first and second, Highlander hurler Josh Deaver settled in, retiring 15 of the next 17 batters. But with two out in the seventh, Muniz belted a pitch well over the fence in right for his 10th home run, second most on the squad, and a 3-1 Davidson lead.

In the eighth, the ’Cats tacked on three unearned runs with two out for a little insurance. Heafner doubled to start the rally, breaking the school record for total bases in a season with 136. Zage followed with a grounder down the first-base line that got by for a two-base error and a run. On the next pitch, senior Eli Benefield lined a single to left to plate Zage. A throwing error by reliever Derek Creger on a comebacker allowed Benefield to scamper home from first.

Long (2-0) has now won each of his two starts this year. He surrendered just four hits and the one run in 5.2 innings, walking two and striking out a pair. West, senior Justin Hartanov and Heafner got the final 10 outs while yielding just two hits and striking out three.

Neither team got much offense in the game, as both Davidson and Radford could only manage six hits against each other. Muniz had a perfect day at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a run and two RBIs, and Heafner scored twice.

Deaver (1-3), who entered the game with an ERA over nine, was the tough-luck loser in a solid outing. In seven innings of work, he surrendered just four hits and two walks which translated into three runs. He also struck out three.

Steve Mignogna collected two of the Highlanders’ six hits, one of which was a bloop double, and score their lone run.

Davidson will play its final Southern Conference series of the season this weekend when Furman comes to town. The Wildcats are currently in sixth place with a 13-14 record, while the Paladins are ninth at 10-16 and fighting for a spot in the league tournament next week. The game on Friday will begin at 7 p.m. Radford heads home to host William & Mary tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 p.m.