Baseball 2/29/2016 1:00:00 PM

RADFORD AND VIRGINIA TECH MEET FOR THE FIRST OF THREE MATCHUPS

Follow @RadfordBaseball

RADFORD, Va. – Playing their first seven games in Georgia, Radford returns to the Commonwealth for a matchup with New River Valley rival Virginia Tech. The matchup is the first of three on the season, with each team hosting a home-home and closing out the season-series with a neutral site contest at Calfee Park in Pulaski, Va. The Highlanders are 3-22 at English Field, with two wins coming in the last five years. First pitch between the two NRV foes is set for 3 p.m.

SETTING THE STAGE
- Series: Virginia Tech leads 41-12
- Location: English Field (Blacksburg, Va.)
- Audio
- Live Stats
- Series Notes (Radford | Virginia Tech)

ON THE BUMP
Tuesday, March 1 – 3 p.m.
LHP Tyler Swarmer (0-0, 11.57) vs. RHP Andrew McDonald (1-0, 0.00)

LAST MEETING

The Highlanders captured the season-series with a 7-4 victory over Virginia Tech on April 21 in Radford, giving RU its 19^th win in their last 23 games.
Zack Ridgely picked up his second win on the year, after only allowing one run in six innings pitched, while punching out six Hokies.
Offensively, the Highlanders were led by Josh Reavis and Patrick Marshall. The duo combined for four hits and five RBI. Josh Gardiner scored three runs, with Shane Johnsonbaugh and Chris Coia crossing the plate two times a piece.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 1-6
Radford collected its first win of the 2016 season in a 2-1 victory over Georgia Southern in game one of the Feb. 27 doubleheader. In the win, Luke Wise drove in both runs on a bunt single and home run.
Zack Ridgely put the Highlanders on his back in the win, tossing his first nine-inning complete game. Ridgely only allowed one run on five hits, while striking out a season-high six batters.
The complete game was the first by a Highlander since April 13, 2012, when Eddie Butler tossed a five-hit shutout versus Fairleigh Dickinson.
Putting together a strong showing at the plate in the four-game series, Zach York drove in four runs.
The sixth inning seems to be York's favorite, going 2 for 6 with two runs scored and four RBI.
Danny Hrbek finished the series 6 for 14, while extending his on-base streak to seven games. The junior second basemen is currently riding a four-game hitting streak.
The Highlander bats have struggled early, striking out 56 times in 222 plate appearances, managing only 48 hits.
In three matchups versus the Hokies in 2015, RU batters compiled a .346 average (37 for 107), 28 RBI, six doubles, two home runs and one triple.
Chris Coia went 5 for 10 with four runs scored and three RBI against the NRV foe a season ago.

SCOUTING VIRGINIA TECH

Record: 4-3
After dropping their first two games of the season, Virginia Tech has outscored opponents 63-15 in their last five contests.
The Hokies' offensive explosion can be attributed to the hot bat of Phil Sciretta, who leads the team with a .500 average (16 for 32) and 12 RBI. The senior has only struckout three times on the season.
In Virginia Tech's 22-1 win over Old Dominion on Feb. 27, Sciretta went 5 for 6 with two doubles and seven RBI. Sciretta became the first Hokie with seven RBI in a game since 2006.
Behind Sciretta, Virginia Tech has five players batting above .280: Matt Dauby (.348), Saige Jenco (.320), Sam Fragale (.300), Grant Maiorana (.286) and Max Ponzurick (.286).
Virginia Tech has been a doubles machine early in the season, tallying 23 two-baggers. Dauby and Ponzurick lead the way with four each.
Proving to be a tough out in the Virginia Tech lineup, Jenco has reached base safely in his last 27 games.
In addition to swinging a hot bat, the Hokies pitching staff has limited opponent's chances to score. Sporting a 2.80 ERA, Virginia Tech pitchers have struckout 68 batters in 61 innings pitched, holding opponents to a .197 average.
Aaron McGarity and Connor Coward have been lights out in the Hokie bullpen. McGarity has struckout 11 in five innings pitched. Coward has not allowed a hit in 4.2 innings pitched, tallying eight strikeouts and four walks.
In two games against the Highlanders at English Field in 2015, Virginia Tech scored 13 of its 25 runs in the fourth inning.

UP NEXT

Radford hosts Hartford, March 4-6, for the first of seven weekend series at RU Baseball Stadium.
The series is three of only seven home contests the Highlanders will play in March.
In 2011, the Highlanders swept the Hawks in a three-game series, marking the first meeting between the two programs.

Print Friendly Version