Career day from Gonzalez against VMI

Radford University wrapped up its fifth series win on the season as eight Highlanders collected a hit in a 15-9 offensive showcase over VMI led by a career-high five RBIs from Jonathan Gonzalez, Sunday afternoon at Gray-Minor Stadium.

Gonzalez’s career day came with his sixth three-hit game on the season and 11th on the season. The senior finished the weekend series 6 for 15 with two doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs.

A day removed from scoring nine runs in the first five innings, Radford opened the game with a five-run second inning. Trailing 1-0, Anthony Miano quickly knotted the game up as he launched a 2-2 pitch off the scoreboard in left field.

The Miano homer sparked the Highlander bats as Clayton Baine ripped a first pitch double down the left field line and Luke Wise reached on a fielding error as his speed forced the Keydet first baseman to bobble a ground ball.

With runners on the corners, Adam Whitacre looked for the squeeze bunt, but pushed it too hard toward the VMI pitcher. The bunt wasn’t enough to score Baine, but allowed Wise to move up.

Radford blew the game wide open on a pair of two-run base hits off the bats of Kyle Butler and Jonathan Gonzalez to take an early 5-1 lead.

The Highlanders added their sixth run in the third inning as Miano led off the frame with a double down the left field line. Miano advanced to third on a Baine fielders’ choice sacrifice bunt, just sliding in ahead of the throw. Whitacre placed a RBI sac bunt up the first base line to plate Miano.

VMI added three runs in the bottom half of the inning as Peyton Maddox and Tyler Tharp collected a pair of singles. Matt Pita worked a 2-2 count, before lifting a three-run home run over the left field fence, pulling the Keydets within 6-4.

Radford loudly answered Pita’s home run with a four-run fourth inning on three hits. Spencer Horwitz and Matt Roth put two Highlanders on base via a single and hit by pitch respectably. Miano continued his tear at the plate with his third hit of the game, plating Horwitz on a RBI single to right field.

Evan Threehouse kept the Highlander lead with a strong effort out of the bullpen in the fourth as the freshman came on with runners on first and second. With no outs in the inning, Threehouse punched out the first two batters he faced and then forced a fly out to right on a eight-pitch at bat.

Baine added three more runs on a first pitch home run over the left field fence for the Highlanders’ second home run by the bottom three of the order. The three-run shot was the third home run on the season for the frosh.

Cameron Fritz came out of the bullpen after the Keydets plated runs on two hits and one error in the fifth inning. Fritz tossed 2.1 innings of scoreless baseball, registering a walk and a strikeout.

Commanding a 10-7 lead after six innings, Gonzalez added to his career day at the plate with a three-run home run to left-center field to cap off his career best five RBIs.

Radford continued to add to its lead; loading the bases on a Baine hit by pitch, Wise single and Whitacre hit by pitch to start the eighth inning. The Highlanders sent the runners in motion as Butler hit a ground ball to shortstop, but a glove flip to second base by Jacob Jaye went into shallow right field. Baine scored easily on the fielders’ choice and the throwing error allowed Wise to score on the error.

The Keydets got the two runs back in the bottom half of the inning, but wasn’t enough as the Highlanders closed out the 15-9 series clinching victory, their fifth on the season.

Radford’s offense scored 29 runs on 38 hits in the three-game non-conference series. The series saw 13 extra base hits, including six in the series finale. Radford hit three-plus home runs for the fourth time on the season.

Anthony Miano joined Jonathan Gonzalez with a three-hit day, the first of his career. Miano fell a triple shy of the cycle, finishing with two RBIs.

Kyle Butler, Spencer Horwitz and Clayton Baine finished with two hits each. Butler and Baine finished with three RBIs each. Baine is now second on the season with three three-RBI games on the season.

Gonzalez, Miano and Baine were responsible for the Radford home runs. The trio was also responsible for the three doubles.

Radford starter Ryan Sande punched out a career best five batters.

“We had several big innings, scoring nine runs in the first four. Jonathan Gonzalez had a very big day for us, driving in a majority of the runs. Clayton Baine’s home run helped us extend the lead when we gave up some runs in the middle. In this ballpark, the game is never really over. You just have to find ways to keep scoring. Our bullpen was really good. The inning that [Evan] Threehouse threw was really big for us calm that inning down,” said Radford head coach Joe Raccuia.

Radford will take the midweek off for exams, before returning to the diamond on Friday. The Highlanders will travel to UNC Asheville for their final Big South road series of the season.

Radford has won 22 straight meetings against UNC Asheville.

— Courtesy of RU Athletics