Highlanders Cruise Past Fairfield In Home Opener

RADFORD, Va. -- Radford baseball collected 19 hits to cruise past Fairfield 15-2 in non-conference action Thursday afternoon at Dedmon Center Park.(Box Score)

RU seniors Alan Ashworth and Mark Fleisher and junior Aaron Ranft each went 4-for-5 to lead the hit fest in which eight different players picked up a hit. Radford improves to 2-8 on the year while Fairfield falls to 0-5.

The Highlanders scored four runs in the bottom of the first to jumpstart the offense. Sophomore Steve Mignogna scored on a flyout by senior Mark Fleisher. Senior Alan Ashworth scored on a ground out by Sophomore Jesse Ross. Senior Kellen Wohlford scored on an RBI single by junior Aaron Ranft, who then scored on a single by freshman Nate Toth.

Fairfield’s first run came in the top of the second on a RBI double by junior Tom Arpino that scored junior John Scaife. The Stags only other run of the game came in the top of the ninth when freshman Adam Chilelli, who led Fairfield with a 2-of-2 performance, singled with the bases loaded, scoring junior Dewey Raymond. The Stags scattered nine hits for the game.

Mignogna led off the second inning with a homer to left field to score one run. Ashworth crossed the plate two batters later when Fleisher doubled to right. RU had another four-run inning in the third, sparked by an Ashworth single to left that scored freshman Ben Toth. Ashworth then scored on Fleisher’s double to center. Wohlford doubled in Fleisher and then scored on a Ranft single.

The Highlanders’ next three runs came in the bottom of the fourth when Fleisher hit a single to left, scoring Mignogna and Ben Toth. Ashworth then scored on a double by Ross. RU’s final two runs came in the sixth when Ross and Ranft each hit RBI singles, scoring Mignogna and Fleisher.

Senior Justin Tubb (1-2) earned his first victory of the year, throwing 6 2/3 innings, allowing just one run. Ryan Hoffman (0-2) took the loss for the Stags.

Radford heads to Tennessee for a three-game weekend series beginning Friday. Fairfield will play a three-game weekend series at George Mason starting Saturday.