March 21, 2008
RADFORD, Va.--A four-run eighth inning capped by Jake Doyle's RBI single propelled the Yale baseball team (6-11) to an 8-7 win over Radford (9-9) Friday afternoon at Dedmon Center Park. With the bases loaded and two out in the top of the eighth, Ryan Lavarnway delivered a two-run single that tied the game at 7-7. Doyle then belted a single to left, allowing P.J. Gorynski to score the winning run. Chris Walsh (1-2) sent the Highlanders down in order in the bottom of the eighth and Steve Gilman pitched the ninth for his third save of the year.
"It seemed like we made a season's worth of mistakes in the first three innings," Mazzuto Family Head Coach John Stuper said, "but these kids never quit. They continued to battle and got a big road win. Chris Walsh and Steve Gilman were outstanding out of the bullpen, and Jake Doyle came through with some big hits."
Some fielding miscues by the Bulldogs led to three Radford runs in the first two innings. In the bottom of the first, Mario Duarte singled, then moved to third on Alex Gregory's single. Both runners scored on Nate Toth's single to the hole at short. After Jonathan Spears was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the second, he moved all the way to third on Ben Toth's sacrifice bunt. First baseman Stefan Schropp rushed a throw that got away from third baseman Andy Megee and Spears came around with Radford's third run.
The Bulldogs got two back in the top of the third when Josh Cox smacked a one-out double to right, then Gorynski walked. Both runners came across on Doyle's double deep to center field.
In the top of the fourth, it was the Highlanders who gave away a run. Schropp led off the inning with a double to the gap in left center and Megee followed with a walk. The runners moved over on Andrew Kolmar's sacrifice bunt. Schropp scored on Cox's infield single, and when shortstop Ben Toth's throw went wide, Megee crossed the plate to give Yale a 4-3 lead.
It stayed 4-3 until the Highlanders put up a two-spot in the bottom of the sixth. Raphael Turner crushed a solo shot to right field leading off the bottom of the seventh, and Radford manufactured another run on two hit batsmen and two sacrifice bunts to make it 7-4.
Schropp got the eighth inning rally started with his second double of the game, a shot to right center. He moved to third when Megee reached on an error and scored when Kolmar grounded into a double play. With two out and nobody on, Elmore was safe on an infield single and Cox reached on an error, then Gorynski walked to load the bases for Lavarnway. Lavarnway delivered a two-run single to left that tied the game before Doyle's single led to the winning run.
The Bulldogs smashed 12 hits and had at least one base runner in every inning except the ninth. Cox went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Doyle was 2-for-5 with three RBIs.
"Josh has swung the bat extremely well on this entire trip, but hasn't had much to show for it until today," Stuper said. "It's nice to see him get three hits."
Brandon Josselyn started on the mound for the Bulldogs and lasted six innings. He gave up five runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
Turner was a triple short of the cycle for Radford, going 3-for-5 at the plate. Tyren Rivers and Gregory each had two hits, while Duarte scored twice. Eric Evans got the start for the Highlanders and gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out seven and walking three in seven innings. Shane Pysh (1-1) took the loss after allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk in 0.2 innings.
The Bulldogs and Highlanders will play a doubleheader on Saturday, with the first pitch of game one scheduled for 12 p.m. Saturday's twinbill concludes Yale's 16-day, 16-game road trip.
Report filed by Joe Clifford, Yale Sports Publicity