On a rain soaked evening in the New River Valley, Radford’s bats did not dampen as they pumped out a season-high 14 hits, but proved not enough as No. 19 Virginia Tech used three late inning home runs to take a 9-7 victory.

Six different Highlanders collected multi-hit games, including two players with three hits. Matt Roth and Straton Podaras collected three hits apiece, career highs for the duo. Roth finished with a career-high two RBIs.

For only the third time on the season, Radford struck first as Kyle Butler singled to left in the top of the second, coming around to score on a Podaras double to left-center field.

Virginia Tech knotted the game in the bottom half of the inning as Rahiem Cooper blooped a ball over the head of Spencer Horwitz at first, using his speed to glide into second for the RBI double.

Following two quick outs in the second, Radford collected three hits in a row, taking the lead once again on double, this time off the bat of Roth. The Hokies answered with two runs in the third.

Trailing 3-2, Radford plated two runs on two Hokie errors in the fourth inning. Richard De la Cruz and Podaras kicked off the inning with a pair of innings. The two singles set up the two runs that would come on fielders’ choice miscues.

Trailing 3-2, Radford plated two runs on two Hokie errors in the fourth inning. Richard De la Cruz and Podaras kicked off the inning with a pair of innings. The two singles set up the two runs that would come on fielders’ choice miscues.

Commanding a 4-3 lead, Cameron Fritz came out of the Radford bullpen in the bottom of the fourth, retiring the Hokies in order.

Radford looked to add to its lead in the fifth, putting runners on corners off singles by Roth and Butler. With one-out, Podaras laid down a bunt as Roth charged home from third base. The bunt went straight to Hokie pitcher Connor Coward, who tossed to his catcher for the fielders’ choice out. The Highlanders would later load the bases in the inning, but were unable to score.

Virginia Tech loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fifth, tallying four runs on a wild pitch and three-run home run off the bat of Joe Freiday, Jr. After taking a three-run lead, Virginia Tech added two more runs on a Ryan Tufts home run in the sixth and a JD Mundy home run in the seventh.

Trailing by 9-4, Radford started another late inning rally as Danny Hrbek reached on a throwing error to start the inning. A Jonathan Gonzalez walk put two runners on, but Gonzalez was quickly erased as Spencer Horwitz lined into a double play.

Down to its last four outs, Roth picked up his second RBI, singling through the right side to score Hrbek from second. After a Virginia Tech pitching change, Butler drew a four-pitch walk, putting runners on first and second.

Two days removed from a two-run base hit in the eighth inning, De la Cruz answered again with a double into the left-center field gap. As both runs crossed the plate, De la Cruz was thrown out at third base, sliding over the bag as a result of the wet turf.

Trey Alderman worked out of a jam in the bottom of the half inning, giving Radford a chance the tie the game at nine.

Podaras led off the inning with a single up the middle for his fourth hit in the last two games, but Radford was unable to do anything with the runner, striking out twice in the frame.

The 9-7 loss snaps Radford’s two-game winning streak in the series.

Radford finished with a 14-11 hit advantage, marking the first time the Highlanders have outhit an opponent on the season. All 14 of the hits came from Radford’s 3-8 hitters.

Entering the game with double-digit strikeouts in six of the first seven games, Radford struck out a season low six times.

Matt Roth improved his hitting streak to four games, collecting his second multi-hit game on the season and first career mutli-RBI game.

Kyle Butler and Spencer Horwitz joined Roth as the duo collected their second multi-hit games of the season.

Richard De la Cruz now leads the Highlanders with two multi-RBI games. Going 0 for 2 in the contest, Cody Schneider had his five-game on-base streak snapped.

Brandon Donovan made his collegiate debut after missing 2016 with an injury. Donovan allowed two runs on two hits in 1.2 innings pitched. The righty collected two strikeouts in the outing.

In the last two games, Straton Podaras is four for seven with two RBIs. Ryan Tufts and Tom Stoffel finished three hits each for the Hokies.

“I thought both teams battled through the rainy elements well. There was a wet field, wet mound and difficult lighting. We were better offensively than we have been most of the season. I enjoyed watching us compete today, but as always the little mistakes of a young team always come back to haunt,” said Radford head coach Joe Raccuia.

— Courtesy of RU Athletics