RADFORD BASEBALL 2015 SEASON PREVIEW

For the first time in Radford baseball history, the Highlanders are coming off back-to-back 30-win seasons, including a school record 33 victories a year ago. RU head coach Joe Raccuia feels the 2015 team may be his most talented and deepest yet as the Highlanders still strive to reach their program goal of playing into June.

"We return a lot of production from last year's team," Raccuia, now in his eighth season leading his alma mater, said. "This, however, may be the toughest overall schedule we have played since I have been here as well."

Here is a look position-by-position at the 2015 Highlanders.

Catcher
Josh Reavis is the senior field captain and a Johnny Bench Award nominee. Reavis made 47 starts behind the plate for the Highlanders a year ago and played in 50 games overall. After leading the team in hitting as a sophomore (.319), Reavis batted .264 in 2014, but increased his power numbers with 3 home runs and 8 doubles to drive in 32 runs. He also stole 11 bases in 13 attempts. Defensively he threw out 17 potential base stealers for RU.

Jordan Taylor, who made 9 starts a year ago and appeared in 14 games, will spell Reavis behind the dish, along with freshman Chandler Davis.

   Raccuia on the Catchers – "Josh is a great leader for our team both on and off the field. Jordan has worked really hard in the off-season and hopefully created a scenario where we can get Josh more rest this year to save his production throughout the season. Chandler is a very hard-working kid, who will push both of the upper classmen."

First Base
Radford will have replace All-Big South performer and draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles, Alexander Lee, who led the team a year ago with a .357 batting average. Danny Hrbek is scheduled to make the shift to first base to provide a left-handed bat in the order. Hrbek played in 28 games with 7 starts as a rookie and tied for the team lead with 3 triples. He hit .275 with 6 RBI.

Two freshmen, another left-handed bat, Simon Palenchar, and Zach York will serve in the reserve roll.

   Raccuia on the First Basemen – "It will be tough to replace the offensive production we got from Lee, but I have confidence in Danny and expect him to have a breakout season by getting him consistently into the lineup this year."

Second Base / Shortstop
There may not be a better up-the-middle combination in the Big South than Josh Gardiner at second base and Chris Coia at shortstop for the Highlanders. The duo combined for a .956 fielding percentage in nearly 500 chances a year ago. Together, they also stole 36 bases (21 Coia, 15 Gardiner). Gardiner finished 3^rd on the team with a .294 average. He scored 51 runs, which was 2^nd most in the Big South, and drove in 37 with 3 triples to his credit as well. Coia hit .275 with 23 RBI.

A pair of freshmen will gain valuable experience with the team this year in Jimmy Brennan and Kyle Butler as well.

   Raccuia on the Middle Infielders – "We have a tremendous asset, especially defensively, with the pair of veterans we have in the middle. We are put together a lot like our team a couple years ago that led the conference in fielding percentage, and these guys are the main cogs for us."

Third Base
Another senior veteran resides at third base for the Highlanders. Hunter Higgerson had a breakout season offensively as a junior leading the Big South in RBI during the regular season with 46. He slugged 9 home runs and posted a .280 average. The home run total tied for the 2^nd most in the league. Higgerson was a second-team All-Big South selection a year ago.

Brennan and Hrbek can be counted on as backups at the hot corner.

   Raccuia on the Third Basemen - "Hunter proved last season he can be a run-producer and hit for power. We expect more of the same and big things from him this season."

Outfield
Led by first-team All-Big South left-fielder, Patrick Marshall, the Highlanders return plenty of experience across the outfield. Marshall is the top returning hitter for RU. He carried a .338 average last season with 13 doubles, 3 home runs, and 45 RBI. Aaron Scoville and Shane Johnsonbaugh each earned starts in right field a year ago. Scoville played in 48 games with 44 starts. He batted .236 and led the team in sacrifices with 11. Johnsonbaugh appeared in 36 games with 15 starts. He hit .236 with 5 doubles and 8 driven in. A season-ending injury to Luke Wise should create an opportunity for Brad Keen or freshmen Trevor Riggs and Anthony Miano in centerfield.

   Raccuia on the Outfielders – "Having a left-handed bat in the middle of the lineup like Marshall's is vital to our success offensively. The injury to Wise will hurt because of his experience last year as a freshman, but we have capable players at each position who are going to be expected to step up and produce this season."

Middle Relief
The return of Jeff Maxwell, who missed nearly all of the 2014 season after leading the bullpen in innings pitched the year before, is a welcome sight for pitching coach Mark McQueen heading into the season. The left-hander is fully recovered from Tommy John surgery and will be looked upon to eat up innings to get to closer Ryan Meisinger. Two years ago he posted a 3.32 ERA in 30 appearances. Another lefty, Kyle Palmer made 11 appearances last season too.

The Highlanders also have a number of right-handers with adequate experience on the bump in the pen. Daniel Bridgeman posted a 4-2 record a year ago in 21 games with a 3.49 ERA. Nygeal Andrews has converted this season to a full-time pitcher. He logged a 2.94 ERA in 11 appearances last season. Kyle Zurak toed the hill 19 times as well. Hrbek's versatility could even be used on the mound. Last year he appeared in 6 games with a 3.00 ERA.

   Raccuia on the Middle Relievers – "The return of Maxwell is big for us. If he is back to being the Jeff Maxwell of 2013, then that will be a huge addition. Basically, what we need from this group is consistency and the ability to throw strikes."

Closer
In Meisinger, who was not a full-time closer a year ago, the Highlanders have the career ERA leader in RU baseball history of pitchers who have thrown at least 80 innings in their careers. Meisinger boasts a 3.05 ERA in 85.2 career innings pitched. Last season he posted a 5-1 record and 7 saves with a 2.80 ERA. He made 19 appearances in all, but started 7 games when injuries to the starting rotation forced him out of the back end of games.

   Raccuia on the Closer – "We have one of, if not the best, closers in the Big South Conference.

Starting Rotation
Two-thirds of the weekend starting rotation from a year ago return in lefty Michael Boyle and righty Dylan Nelson. Boyle finished the season with a 4-3 record and will be scheduled as the Friday starter for RU. His 4.09 ERA a year ago was best among starters for the Highlanders and his 81.1 innings and 69 strikeouts were team bests as well. Nelson made 14 starts and led the team in wins with 6. He logged 74.2 innings and carried a 4.34 ERA.

The third spot in the rotation will go to Mitchell MacKeith, at least to begin the season. MacKeith was 2-2 a year ago with 16 appearances and 4 starts. Fighting to get into the weekend rotation and make quality starts for the Highlanders in midweek contests will be Tyler Swarmer, Austin Ross, Travis McQueen, and Zack Ridgely.

   Raccuia on the Starting Pitchers – "We have enough experience and a mixture of right-handed and left-handed arms to be pretty competitive. There will be a lot of competition among this group, but if we maintain our health, we are solid with whomever we send to the mound."

Radford opens its season Friday at Samford with a three-game series with the Bulldogs. The 2015 slate also contains the likes of national runner-up Virginia, and NCAA Super Regional participant College of Charleston. In all, the Highlanders will face five teams from the 2014 NCAA Tournament during the season, plus the SEC's Auburn and the ACC's Virginia Tech.

The Highlanders received one first-place vote and were predicted 5^th in the Big South preseason poll.

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