RADFORD at WINTHROP April 20-21 | The Winthrop Ballpark - Rock Hill, S.C. RU in 2012: 21-15 (6-3, BIg South) | Streak: W4 | Last 10: 7-3

Friday Game 1, 3:00 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Audio | Big South Network Video RHP Eddie Butler (3-3, 2.50) vs. RHP Matt Pierpont (3-6, 4.86)

Friday Game 2, 6:30 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Audio | Big South Network Video RHP Tyler Costello (7-0, 1.50) vs. RHP Eric Ruth (3-2, 5.40)

Saturday, 3:00 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Audio RHP Mark Peterson (2-1, 5.58) vs. Winthrop TBA

NOTE: Big South Network Video will be available, weather permitting.  Visit BigSouthSports.com for up-to-date info on live video streams.

After enjoying an unscheduled four-day break following a stretch of five games in six days, Radford returns to the diamond and to Big South action this weekend with a three-game series at Winthrop.  The series has been adjusted and includes a Friday doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
 
Saturday's series finale will be played at its scheduled time, 3 p.m. – however, bad weather could adjust the start of the Saturday game as well.
 
Over a five-game non-league stretch, the Highlanders went 4-1 and they carry a four-game win streak into the weekend.   The string of good play extends to wins in six of the last seven games for Radford.
 
Jumping back into conference action this weekend, the Highlanders sit a game-and-a-half behind first-place Liberty with a 6-3 conference record.   However, the top six teams in the conference are separated from first place by just three games.
 
Overall, Radford is one of six Big South teams with 20 or more wins in 2012.  With 18 scheduled regular season games remaining, the Highlanders again have an opportunity to top a school record for wins – Radford earned its program-best 31st win in the Big South Tournament a season ago.
 
Winthrop owns a 50-31 series advantage against Radford, but the Highlanders have swung the tides in their favor lately, taking five of the last six games with the Eagles and nine of 14 games since the 2008 season.  The Highlanders have won each of the last two conference weekends at Winthrop ('08, '10).
 
Radford is playing just its second Big South road series (High Point – April 6-7).
 
WEEKEND NOTEBOOK

• Radford's .981 fielding percentage is the third–best in NCAA Division I – the Highlanders have committed the fewest errors (27) through 36 games of any team in the country
• After scoring just one run in the first game, the Highlanders outscored Fairleigh Dickinson 24-4 the remainder of the series
• Eddie Butler won for the first time since March 23, tossing a complete game shutout in the series opener against the Knights
• Butler needed just 1:38 to toss his second straight complete game and second career shutout - it was the shortest 9-inning game for Radford since 1995 (as far back as game time records go)
• Tyler Costello earned his seventh win in as many starts last Saturday against Fairleigh Dickinson - his win streak in consecutive starts is the second-longest in the nation (Army's Chris Rowley and Kennesaw State's Josh Carr have won eight straight starts)
• Costello struck out just one batter in eight innings in that start, and has only 19 strikeouts in 54 innings this season
• Costello's 1.50 ERA is second in the Big South and 22nd in the nation – his seven wins are good for fifth
• Jeff Kemp went 10-for-20 with two homers, eight RBIs and 21 total bases in 20 at-bats last week
• Kemp had five RBIs in the FDU series finale, and has a career-high 40 in 36 games – he ranks second in the Big South in RBIs and 21st nationally
• Kemp tops the league leaderboard in both doubles (15) and triples (6) – his .573 slugging percentage is fourth in the conference
• Matt Mack had a streak of 25 straight games reaching base snapped on Wednesday, but had six hits and hit two homers with eight RBIs during the FDU series
• Matt Hillsinger established a new career high with his seventh homer in the series finale against FDU
• Zach Costello has reached base in all but one game this season, and 22 consecutive contests