Radford puts a lid on the 2012 regular season and battles for positioning in the upcoming Big South Tournament in a three-game weekend series at home against Liberty this weekend.
The Highlanders enter the weekend fourth in the league standings, 4 1/2 games behind Coastal Carolina for first place, and just a game behind third-place Liberty. Radford could finish as high as second in the standings – the top eight teams make the tournament and play in a new double-elimination bracket for all teams.
It's the second meeting between the two teams this season – Radford and Liberty matched up in a rare midweek game in the beginning of the season. The Flames beat Radford 6-3 in Lynchburg on Feb. 22.
Liberty leads the all-time series with Radford 50-28 and while the Highlanders have won four of the last six road regular season meetings with the Flames, Liberty has five of the last six games in Radford.
On Saturday, Radford's program will recognize it's senior class – a group of 10 players that includes seven with four years or more of experience. The seniors have put together the program's most wins in a four year stretch, a 113-99-1 mark entering the weekend. The players were also part of the first recruiting class for the staff of head coach
Joe Raccuia, who is in his fifth season.
WEEKEND NOTEBOOK:
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Radford enters the final league weekend third in the conference in batting average (.289) and fourth in ERA (4.26)
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The Highlanders were fifth in the nation in defense in Monday's NCAA statistical report, fielding at .980
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Brett Mollenhauer extended his hitting streak to 14 games in his first at-bat on Tuesday night – Mollenhauer is batting .439 during the stretch (25-for-57) and .471 in the month of May
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The hitting streak is the longest of Mollenhauer's career – he is the school's new leader in career games played (211) and at-bats (812)
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In his last 10 games, Josh Gardiner has hit well with a .341 average (14-for-41), scoring 11 runs and walking six times for a .426 on-base percentage
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Ryan Burgess, who went hitless from March 20-April 14, is batting .310 (9-for-29) with six RBIs in May
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Matt Hillsinger, after returning to action on Tuesday night for the first time since April 28, still ranks in the Big South's top 10 in batting average, home runs, on-base percentage and slugging percentage
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Jeff Kemp, expected back in the lineup soon, is in the league's top 10 in five offensive categories, and ranks 13th in the nation in RBIs per game (1.1)
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Matt Mack has had four or more hits in every Big South series he's played in – Mack's 17 league RBIs are the most on the team and tied for seventh in the conference
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Radford's pitching continues to be strong in Big South games, with a team ERA of 3.06 – Eddie Butler's conference ERA is 2.26 (5th) while Mark Peterson is at 2.63 (9th)
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Butler, who will pitch in the final series opener of 2012, is one of two pitchers in the history of Radford's program to earn 20 or more career wins (Jim Abbott – 24 from 1992-95)
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Relievers Jason Patten and Abram Williams will both be recognized as part of Senior Day on Saturday – Patten (90) and Williams (85) are second and third all-time in career appearances, and first and second in saves, with Williams at 23 and Patten at 20
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Both Williams and Patten rank in the Big South's career top 10 in saves
