David Laird entered the game in the sixth inning, making the most of the opportunity as the freshman collected two hits and two RBIs, driving in the game winning run on a double in the 11th inning to give Radford a 5-4 non-conference win over Liberty.
Laird entered the game as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Highlanders trailed 3-2. In Laird’s first at bat of the game in the seventh, he came up big as his first collegiate hit resulted in his first collegiate RBI as the freshman singled a first pitch fastball up the middle to tie the game at three.
Radford fell behind early in the game as Liberty starter Jackson Bertsch retired 11 Highlanders in a row after starting the sixth inning with pop out. Cody Schneider broke the streak with a single to right field for the Highlanders second hit of the game.
Adam Whitacre followed with a single to center field that would have normally been a fly out, but was lost in the lights by the Flames’ outfield. Schneider and Whitacre moved up on the throw in.
Radford saw its first RBI opportunity of the game and Luke Wise took advantage with a RBI single to right field for the first run of the game. Kyle Butler followed with a first pitch sacrifice fly to center field to pull the Highlanders within 3-2 on three hits in the frame.
Coming on in the fifth inning, Evan Threehouse continued his dominating performance in relief., giving the Highlanders a chance to take the lead. Threehouse held the Flames to only two hits over three innings, walking one and collecting two punch-outs.
Jonathan Gonzalez continued the Highlanders hot streak with an infield single to second base to lead off the seventh. Spencer Horwitz grounded out, moving Gonzalez over to second base, scoring on the Laird single.
Radford continued to swing its hot bats at the plate as Wise gave the Highlanders a one-out base runner, sliding head first into first base on a bunt single. After putting up a strong fight at the plate, Butler earned a walk to put two runners on base.
Following a Danny Hrbek infield fly, Gonzalez ripped a 2-2 pitch into left field to plate the fourth run of the game as Wise scored easily to hand Radford a 4-3 lead.
Cameron Fritz entered the bottom half of the inning, striking out the first two batters he faced, sending the Highlanders into the ninth looking for insurance runs.
Radford put runners on second and third in the inning, but was unable to push across what turned in to be an important insurance run.
The bottom of the ninth opened as Sammy Taormina lifted a fly ball to left field as Whitacre camped under the ball. The ball hit off the end of Whitacre’s glove as Taormina moved into third on the dropped fly ball.
Fritz held his composure forcing a ground out to third and a pop out in foul territory as Gonzalez made a nice play on a ball that went straight into the lights. Following a walk to pinch hitter Dylan Allen, Liberty had runners on the corners with two outs.
Liberty tied the game at four as Fritz’s 2-1 pitch got away from Gonzalez, plating a run via the wild pitch. The sophomore once again battled back with his third punch out on the day.
The two in-state foes were unable to get anything going in the 10th inning.
Heading into the longest game on the season for the Highlanders, Horwtiz led off the inning with a strikeout, moving to first base on a passed ball. Roth followed with a hit-and-run ground out to third base, moving Horwitz into scoring position.
Coming up big one more time, Laird drilled a first pitch fastball over the centerfielder’s head as Horwitz raced home from second for the game winning run.
Mack Krupp picked up his first win on the season with a strikeout, line out and ground out in the bottom of the frame to seal the 5-4 comeback victory.
Radford’s bullpen combined to allow only two hits 8.2 innings. The allowed only one unearned run, while striking out six batters. Highlander pitchers combined to walk a season-high eight batters.
Radford held Liberty to 3 for 23 performance with runners on base. Evan Threehouse tossed a career-high three innings and has struck out 10 batters over his last nine innings pitched.
Krupp picked up his second career win 366 days from his last one on April 3, 2016 against Campbell.
Jonathan Gonzalez led all batters with three hits, his team best fifth three-hit game on the season.
David Laird and Luke Wise joined Gonzalez with multi-hit performances, finishing with two hits each.
Collecting a RBI, Kyle Butler was unable to register a hit, snapping his 11-game hit streak. Going 0 for 4 at the plate with no walks, Matt Roth’s 23-game on-base streak was ended.
Radford only left seven runners on base, while Liberty left 15. The Highlanders finished 5 for 17 at the plate with runners on base, while going 4 for 9 with runners in scoring position. Radford was successful in advancing 11 runners in 21 opportunities.
The game took 4:11 to play 11 innings, longest game on the season for Radford.
— Courtesy of RU Athletics
