Bastian…The Radford Bobcats jumped on the Bland Co. Bears early with two runs in the first and four more in the second as they rolled over the bears in five innings 17-2.

Trace Shepherd led Radford (2-2) as he went three for four at the plate. He knocked in four and scored twice. Ty Hamblin and Michael Wheeler both had two hits. Humbling scored three times and Wheeler crossed the dish twice. Roman Benet, Taylor Newcome, Bryce Young as well as Conner Phillips all scored two runs each. The Bobcats had a season high 13 hits and Newcome picked up the win. He tossed two innings giving up two runs, three hits. He also walked four and struck out three.

Bland Bears had five hits in the loss as Austin Chewing was two of three and scored a run. Deyin King, Dylan Jackson and Jake Watters had one hit each. King scored a run as Chase Dillow and Garrett Steffey had an RBI each. Watters was the losing pitcher, as he couldn’t get out of the second inning. He struck out three but his wildness led to seven base-on-balls and five runs, with four of those earned.

“We finally hit the ball tonight and I thought our pitchers came through for us,” said Bobcat head coach Greg Ridpath.

Radford used not only Newcome on the mound in the five inning game, but Reese Williamson went two as he struck out three and gave up just one hit. Chance Morris went the other inning striking out two and walking one.

The Bobcats scored in every inning as their pitchers shut the Bears down except in the bottom of the third, when the Bears scored both their runs.

Radford will be back in action Wednesday as the travel to Craig Co. First pitch is slated for 5 pm.

R H E LOB

Radford 2 4 2 4 5 x x – 17 13 1 8

Bland Co. 0 0 2 0 0 x x – 2 5 4 9

Radford – WP – Newcome (1-0)

Bland Co. – LP – Watters