RADFORD, Va. – The 2009 Big South baseball season gets underway for Radford this weekend, when the Highlanders welcome High Point to town for a three-game series, scheduled to begin Friday afternoon.

With a mix of snow, sleet, and rain in the weekend forecast, the schedule could see changes. Visit RadfordAthletics.com for the most up-to-date reports on when the Highlanders will hit the field.

Live Stats
Weekend Probable Starting Pitchers:

Friday, 3 p.m. – RHP Aerik Taylor (1-2, 3.46 ERA) vs. LHP R.J. Chlebnikow (0-1, 4.50)

Saturday, 2 p.m. – RHP Shane Pysh (0-1, 8.76) vs. RHP Jamie Serber (1-1, 5.79)

Sunday, 1 p.m. – RHP Abram Williams (0-1, 10.29) vs. LHP Brian Jones (0-3, 4.72)

Radford (4-6) is trying to stop a two-game slide when the Panthers visit Radford University Baseball Field this weekend. This March, the Highlanders are looking to improve on a 3-3 record.

High Point (4-8, 0-3 Big South) is looking to snap a five-game skid of its own, coming off a mid-week series in Tallahassee with No. 14 (NCBWA) Florida State. The Seminoles wrapped out 19 hits to beat the Panthers 18-4 on Tuesday night at Dick Howser Stadium, then rallied with runs in the seventh and eighth innings to win 3-2 on Wednesday night, earning the sweep of High Point.

The Panthers were swept by Winthrop last weekend (March 6-8) to open Big South play. Catcher Billy Alvino leads High Point at the plate with his .348 average this season, and center fielder Bill Manion has six extra base hits and 12 RBI to pace the Panthers through 12 games.

High Point, which leads the all-time series with Radford 17-15, took two of three from the Highlanders last season (April 18-20) in a series at High Point. Senior third baseman Ben Toth led Radford at the plate with a 6-for-12 series, and junior center fielder Tyren Rivers drove in three during the set.

After dropping the first two of the series, Radford grabbed a 3-0 lead in the second inning of the Sunday game, and added insurance runs in the seventh on Nate Toth's two-out, two-run single through the right side to give the Highlanders a 7-3 lead, en route to a 7-4 win.

-          Radford's loss on Tuesday to Virginia Tech was a game that featured the involvement of a total of 42 players between the two teams (30 position players, 12 pitchers). 15 of Radford's 16 position players saw action, and one (Andrew Cook) appeared not in the field or at the plate, but on the mound.

-          The appearance on the hill for right-handed Cook, who logged an inning of work, was the first of his career.

-          Senior left fielder Mario Duarte went 0-for-3 against Virginia Tech, but is still 10-for his last-15 at the plate with nine RBI and six runs scored in his last four games.

-          Junior right fielder Reggie Keen was a bright spot for the Highlanders on Tuesday, in trying to rebound from a slow start. Keen was 2-for-3 against the Hokies, and drove in Radford's only run of the afternoon.

-          Junior Rick Hoogstraten's pinch-hit single on Tuesday makes him 2-for-3 in appearances off the bench this season.

-          Senior third baseman Nick Minter, starting all 11 games for Radford this season, now leads the team with a .361 average and .439 on-base percentage.

Friday – Junior RHP Aerik Taylor (Williamsport, Md./Williamsport)

Taylor heads to the post for the third time this season, following up his best outing of the season last Saturday. In Radford's 26-1 game 2 win over Canisius, the junior righty put up four 1-2-3 innings in his six frames, using the benefit of the double play twice.  Taylor, who earned the first win of his Division I career, fanned five and walked none last Saturday.

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

Pysh will see High Point for the second time in his young career on Saturday, making his first start against the Panthers. The sophomore right-hander allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings working in the series finale, a 7-4 win, for Radford. Last weekend in game 1 against Canisius, Pysh gave up two runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Sunday – Redshirt freshman RHP Abram Williams (Radford, Va./Radford)

Williams will get the starting nod for the second time in his collegiate career on Sunday, starting for the second time in less than a week. Continuing his return from Tommy John surgery in 2008, Williams allowed three earned and struck out three in 4 1/3 innings Monday night against Bryant, taking the loss. This season, Williams has worked seven innings over three appearances.