RADFORD, Va. – Radford baseball takes the diamond for the first time in 2009 on Friday (Feb. 20), when the Highlanders travel to UAB for a three-game opening-weekend set.

First pitch on Friday afternoon at Young Memorial Field in Birmingham, Alabama is set for 4 p.m., Eastern. The series is the first-ever between Radford and UAB and the Blazers are the second Conference USA opponent on the Highlanders' schedule this season (Marshall).

Game 1: Friday, 4 p.m. – RHP Shane Pysh (RAD) vs. RHP Kyle Roberson (UAB)

Game 2: Saturday, 3 p.m. – RHP Aerik Taylor (RAD) vs. LHP Shay Crawford (UAB)

Game 3: Sunday, 2 p.m. – LHP Paul DeVito (RAD) vs. RHP James Oliver (UAB)

In year 2 under head coach and 1995 graduate Joe Raccuia, Radford is looking to build off of a 2008 campaign that included a 14-win turnaround. Entering the season, the Highlanders have been picked by numerous collegiate baseball publications and the Big South coaches to finish fifth in the now-ten team league.

Radford welcomes back a host of experienced hitters, beginning with the Big South Preseason Player of the Year, senior first baseman Alex Gregory (Great Falls, Va./Paul VI). The two-time defending league batting champion, Gregory is one of just two players in Division I to eclipse the .400 mark over the last two seasons.   His 14 homers, 51 RBI and 39 walks were team-bests a year ago.

Also returning to a lineup that produced a school-record 583 hits in 2008 is junior right fielder Reggie Keen (Danville, Va./GW-Danville). Keen, whose name appears on the Brooks Wallace Award Preseason Watch List, is Radford's new single-season hits leader with his 84 last year.   Last season, Keen led the Highlanders with 14 doubles and five triples, and posted a 19-game hitting streak, third best in the Big South.

Gregory and Keen started in all 56 games for the Highlanders last season.

Junior Tyren Rivers (Suffolk, Va./Nansemond River), a second team all-conference selection a year ago, brings 15 extra-base hits and 12 stolen bases back to the top of the lineup. Rivers will also be making the move from second base to center field.

Two more .300 hitters will be penciled in: seniors Nick Minter (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem-Va. Beach) and Ben Toth (Bedford, N.H./Manchester).   Minter hit .307 with 32 driven in last year, while Toth went .322 with 16 extra-base hits.

UAB, which continued a re-building effort in 2008 under third-year skipper Brian Shoop, finished 26-34 overall last season. The Blazers won five games against NCAA Regional teams, ended the season winning six of their final nine, and picked up late season-wins against Rice (Conference USA Tournament) and Southern Miss (two wins, final regular-season series).

The Blazers were second in C-USA in batting average last year at .311 and are led at the dish by preseason all-conference pick Brint Hardy, a .338 hitter with 24 stolen bases a year ago. The senior outfielder was the MVP of the Alaska Baseball League this past summer.   Corner infielder Luke Stewart is the top returning power threat, mashing 13 homers with 54 RBI last season for the Blazers.

Friday – Sophomore RHP Shane Pysh (Wheeling, W.Va./John Marshall)

Raccuia will hand the ball on opening day to the sophomore righty Pysh, one of three Highlander pitchers making their first Division I start this weekend.   His only career win came in the month of February, as well as on the road, when he allowed one run in three innings of relief in a 9-5 win at James Madison on Feb. 26 of last year. With 21 appearances under his belt, all in relief, Pysh worked a career-long 3 2/3 innings on April 13 against Liberty.

Saturday – Junior RHP Aerik Taylor (Williamsport, Md./Hagerstown C.C.)

Taylor makes his return to Division I baseball with the starting nod on Saturday.   Before spending 2008 at Hagerstown Community College where he posted a 2.54 ERA with 87 strikeouts in 53 innings, Taylor made five appearances out of the bullpen for Oklahoma State, a Super Regional team in 2007. As a Cowboy, the right-hander turned in a 2.16 ERA and an opponent batting average of .154.

Sunday – Freshman LHP Paul DeVito (Annapolis, Md./Archbishop Spalding)

DeVito, among several Radford freshmen expected to play in the first weekend, makes his collegiate debut on Sunday. One of four Highlander newcomers from Archibishop Spalding, the 6-2 southpaw went 4-2 with a 3.50 ERA as a senior for the Cavaliers in a prep career that included a no-hitter in his junior year.