FOLLOW OHIO BASEBALL: Facebook | Twitter

Box Score (PDF)

RADFORD, Va. -- The Ohio baseball team (0-2) was edged by host Radford (2-0), 4-2, on Saturday (February 20) at Sherman Carter Memorial Stadium.

Ohio outhit Radford, 6-4, but struck out 11 times in the defeat. The Highlanders earned the weekend series victory courtesy of Saturday's triumph over the Bobcats. Radford posted a 7-3 win in the 2021 season opener on Friday (February 19).

Graduate student third baseman Harry Witwer-Dukes (Monmouth, Ore.) and redshirt senior shortstop Joe Weisenseel (Strongsville, Ohio) each produced a pair of hits from the bottom of the batting order for the Bobcats, with Witwer-Dukes going 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored while Weisenseel finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Radford pushed across three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Redshirt junior shortstop Dac Archer hit a one-out single and scored on an RBI ground out senior catcher/designated hitter Will Harless to tally the game's first run. Senior right fielder Anthony Galati then drove in graduate student designated hitter/catcher Straton Podaras and redshirt junior left fielder Connor Bagnieski, who had reached on a hit by a pitch and a walk, respectively, earlier in the frame.

The scored remained 3-0 in favor of the Highlanders until Ohio broke through with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to make it one-run affair. Witwer-Dukes shot a two-out double to right and then scored on a base hit to center by Weisenseel. Senior center fielder Isaiah Peterson (Lincoln, Neb.) struck out swinging but was able to reach first base safely on a wild pitch. The Bobcats then loaded up the bases courtesy of a walk by sophomore designated hitter Alex Finney (Oxford, Mich.). Weisenseel scampered home on another wild pitch to trim Radford's lead to 3-2, but a fly out ended the inning with two runners stranded on base for Ohio.

The Highlanders tacked on their fourth and final run in the seventh when junior third baseman David Bryant drew a leadoff walk and scored two outs later by way of a single to left by Archer. Archer finished the contest 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored to lead Radford's bats.

Senior right-handed pitcher Austin Kaplan and redshirt junior righty Alex Perkins combined to toss four scoreless innings of relief for Radford. Kaplan went three frames and struck out two while giving up just one hit while Perkins picked up his first save of the season courtesy of a spotless ninth inning in which he fanned two. Their performances secured the win on the mound for southpaw starting pitcher Vinnie Venturi, who worked the first five innings and struck out seven while surrendering two earned runs on five hits and two walks.

Junior right-handed starting pitcher Colin Sells (Lancaster, Ohio) was saddled with the loss for the Bobcats. He struck out three while allowing three earned runs on three hits and three walks over five innings. Senior right-hander Chace Harris (New Marshfield, Ohio) pitched three innings of relief, giving up one earned run on one hit and one walk. He struck out one.

Ohio will look to end the opening weekend of the season with a win when it faces Radford again on Sunday (February 21). First pitch is set for 1 p.m. ET.

#OUOhYeah