BLACKSBURG, Va. – Austin Wates and Steve Bumbry banged out three hits each and drove two runs apiece as Virginia Tech posted a 10-4 non-conference baseball victory over Radford University on Wednesday night at English Field.

The Hokies (27-17) put up two quick runs in the bottom of the first, with left fielder Klint Reed (Chesterfield, Va.) scoring on a double by first baseman Wates (Richmond), and right fielder Mike Kaminski (Ventura, Calif.) coming home on a sacrifice fly to right by catcher Anthony Sosnoskie (Front Royal, Va.).

The Highlanders, now 20-19 on the season, got one of those runs back in the top of the second when first baseman Alex Gregory led off with a solo home run to right field – his sixth long ball of the season.

With the help of a Radford error, Tech added three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 5-1 lead. Designated hitter Luke Padgett (Lynchburg, Va.), who had singled and moved to second on a fielder’s choice grounder by third baseman Tony Balisteri (Lexington, Va.), came around to score the first run on a base hit to right by Reed. However, the ball scooted past the Radford right fielder, allowing Balisteri to race home as well, and letting Reed make it all the way to third. Reed then came home for the frame’s final tally on a sacrifice fly to center by Wates.

The teams swapped runs in the sixth to make the score 6-2 in the Hokies favor. Radford center fielder Ty Rivers doubled before scoring on an RBI single from shortstop Jeff Kemp in the top half, while Tech’s Padgett, who singled and moved to second on a Balisteri base knock, came home on another error by the Radford right fielder.

Tech plated another pair in the seventh to push its lead to 8-2. Wates and center fielder Bumbry (Cockeysville, Md.) led off with back-to-back singles, with Wates speeding to third on Bumbry’s hit and Bumbry taking second on the throw to third. Ronnie Shaban (Moseley, Va.) then brought both home with a two-run single to right.

Radford added two tallies to its total in the top of the eighth thanks to three singles and a Tech error. Reggie Keen reached on a one-out base hit before moving to second on a single by Gregory. Raphael Turner then hit into a fielder’s choice, but Balisteri bobbled the ball, allowing Keen to score and letting Gregory reach second base safely. A Rick Hoogstraten followed with a single to plate Gregory.

A two-run triple by Bumbry in the bottom of the eighth got both of those runs back for Tech, making the score 10-4 Tech. Reed and Wates both scored on the play, which was Bumbry’s second triple of the season.

A predetermined pitching order allowed Tech starter Rhett Ballard (High Point, N.C.) to pick up the victory despite working just two full innings. Gregory’s homer was the only hit off Ballard who is now 6-3 on the season. Relievers Clark Labitan (San Diego, Calif.), Jesse Hahn (Groton, Conn.), Shaban and Ben Rowen (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.) combined to hold the Highlanders to three runs (one earned) over the last seven innings.

Reed, Padgett and Balisteri finished with two hits each to join Bumbry and Wates with multiple hit games, as the Hokies collected 14 total hits. Radford got three hits from Gregory and two each from Kemp and Hoogstraten on the way to nine hits.

Tech is scheduled to resume Atlantic Coast Conference play on Friday when it opens a three-game series at Florida State. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.