HIGHLANDERS KICK OFF BIG SOUTH PLAY AT LONGWOOD

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RADFORD, Va. – Riding a two-game winning streak, Radford will kick off Big South play with a trip up to Farmville to take on Commonwealth foe Longwood in a three-game clash before the Easter holiday. The Highlanders will be making their first trip to Longwood since the Highlanders' three-game sweep during the 2013 season.

SETTING THE STAGE
- Series: Longwood leads 12-13
- Location: Charles Buddy Bolding Stadium (Farmville, Va.)
- Audio (Thursday and Saturday only)
- Live Stats
- Series Notes (Radford | Longwood)

ON THE BUMP
Thursday, March 24 – 5 p.m.
LHP Zack Ridgely (1-2, 3.19) vs. RHP Travis Burnette (3-1, 2.38)
Friday, March 25 – 5 p.m.
RHP Dylan Nelson (0-4, 3.55) vs. LHP Steven Farkas (0-1, 2.82)
Saturday, March 26 – 2 p.m.
LHP Mitchell MacKeith (2-1, 3.15) vs. RHP Luke Simpson (0-1, 7.50)

LAST MEETING

The two teams did not meet in the 2015 regular season, but met in the first round of the Big South Tournament.
In the opening round contest, the two teams were tied at three after the top of the seventh, but a Patrick Marshall solo home run in the seventh and Brad Keen sacrifice fly gave the Highlanders a 5-3 victory.
Zack Ridgely threw six strong innings, allowing only two runs on five hits with both runs coming as unearned.
Marshall led the RU offense with a 3 for 3 day with two RBI.
Trevor Riggs gave the Highlanders an early 3-0 lead with a two-run home run in the fourth.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 5-16
After starting the season with one of the hardest schedules in the country, Radford is starting the reap the benefits of facing tough competition. The Highlanders have scored 25 runs on 31 hits in their last two games.
Radford evened the New River Valley series at one with a 12-8 victory over rival Virginia Tech on Tuesday night. The Highlanders scored in every inning but one, while collecting 15 hits.
With a three-run home run in the victory, Jonathan Gonzalez is currently on a six-game hitting streak. Over the span, the junior is 10 for 23 with seven RBI, six runs scored, one double and one home run.
Danny Hrbek continues to dominate opposing pitchers as the toughest out in the Big South. Hrbek has only struckout twice in 72 at bats, collecting hits in 17 of his 20 starts. The junior is riding a five-game hitting streak, going 10 for 20 with four RBI, four runs scored, two triples and one double.
Hrbek ranks ninth nationally in the toughest to strikeout category. Averaging one strikeout per 36 at bats.
In the situation of runners in scoring position and two outs, Chris Coia has three hits and four RBI.
Radford's bell cow in the bullpen, Travis McQueen, has shutdown opposing lineups of late. The redshirt senior has only allowed two earned runs in his last 8.2 innings pitched. McQueen has collected 11 strikeouts over the last three games, giving him 24 on the season.
Highlander pitchers have been able to induce groundballs this season, forcing 203 groundouts. RU is averaging 9.67 groundouts per game.
Radford is 4-9 at Longwood.

SCOUTING LONGWOOD

Record: 11-10
The Lancers are coming off a 5-2 loss to VCU on Tuesday. Longwood collected 10 hits, but only manufactured two runs. The difference in the game was a three-run triple in the fourth inning off the bat of VCU's Logan Farrar. Four Lancers finished with two hits a piece in the loss.
Longwood opened Big South play last weekend versus No.22 Coastal Carolina, taking the first game of the series, before dropping the final two games of the opening series.
In game one of the double header on March 18, Travis Burnette allowed two runs on seven hits, striking out eight batters in 5.2 innings to earn the win. The Lancer bullpen only allowed one hit in 3.1 innings of relief.
The lone bright spot in the Longwood lineup has been Alex Lewis, who leads the team with a .306 average, four home runs and 22 RBI.
Lewis ranks fifth in the Big South in home runs and eighth in RBI.
Sammy Miller provides Longwood with a lot of speed at the top of the order. Miller leads the Lancers with 18 runs scored and has successfully stolen eight bases in 10 attempts. In addition to his speed, Miller stays patient at the dish, ranking seventh in the Big South with 15 walks.
Longwood ranks just above Radford in the Big South with a .238 team batting average.
Burnette is off to one of the best starts among Big South throwers. The righty has compiled a 3-1 record and a 2.38 ERA in 34 innings pitched. He ranks seventh in the league with 30 strikeouts. Opposing batters are only hitting .222 against Burnette.
Cody Boydstun was named The Crons Brand Pitcher of the Week in the Big South on March 7. Boydstun earned the honor after going 4 for 4 in save opportunities. He struck out two and did not allow a run or a walk in 4.1 innings, aiding the Lancers to their longest winning streak of the season at five games.

UP NEXT

Radford will travel south on Interstate 81 to take on East Tennessee State on March 29 in a non-conference matchup.
The Highlanders and Buccaneers are set for a 6 p.m. contest at Thomas Stadium.
The 2015 season saw the two foes split the season series.
RU is 17-23 versus ETSU, with the first meeting coming in 1987.

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