RADFORD HOSTS CAMPBELL FOR BIG SOUTH HOME OPENING SERIES

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RADFORD, Va. – After kicking off the 2016 Big South season on the road, Radford returns to RU Baseball Stadium to open the home portion of the conference docket versus Campbell in a three-game series starting tomorrow. The Highlanders went 5-13 in the month of March, hoping April brings more than showers.

SETTING THE STAGE
- Series: Campbell leads 26-18
- Location: RU Baseball Stadium (Radford, Va.)
- Video
- Audio
- Live Stats
- Series Notes (Radford | Campbell)

ON THE BUMP
Friday, April 1 – 6:30 p.m.
RHP Nick Thayer (4-2, 5.77) vs. LHP Zack Ridgely (1-2, 2.82)
Saturday, April 2 – 4 p.m.
RHP Grant Yost (2-2, 2.78) vs. RHP Dylan Nelson (0-5, 4.18)
Sunday, April 3 – 2 p.m.
TBA vs. LHP Mitchell MacKeith (3-1, 4.00)

LAST MEETING (March 27-29, 2015)

Radford earned a three-game sweep over Campbell, outscoring the Camels 18-5 in the series.
The series saw Patrick Marshall go 5 for 11 with six RBIs. Shane Johnsonbaugh finished 5 for 10 with four RBIs.
Radford's bullpen tossed 5.1 innings of shutout baseball, striking out five batters.
RU's weekend rotation combined for 16 punch outs.
The Highlanders finished the series with six stolen bases.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 6-19
Radford is coming off a disheartening 6-5 loss to ETSU in a border clash, Tuesday night in Johnson City, Tenn.
The Highlanders controlled a 5-2 lead after seven innings, scoring three runs in the seventh on a Trevor Riggs fielders' choice bunt and a Jonathan Gonzalez single that plated two runs.
ETSU rallied against the Highlander bullpen, scoring three runs in the eighth on a two-run single from Blake Rowlett and Robby MacCabe sac bunt. The Buccaneers continued the rally, scoring the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on a failed pickoff attempt that saw two Radford errors allow Trey York to score from first base for a 6-5 ETSU comeback victory.
Riggs and Gonzalez finished with two hits and two RBIs each in the loss.
With a single in the opening inning, Gonzalez extended his hitting streak to nine games, going 15 for 37 with nine RBIs over the span.
Riggs is currently on a nine-game on-base streak and four-game hitting streak. Over the last eight games, Riggs is 13 for 24 with seven runs driven in.
Zack Ridgely ranks eighth among Big South starters with a 2.82 ERA. The lefty has allowed only 12 earned runs in 38.1 innings pitched. Ridgely has tallied 27 strikeouts, ranking third in the league with 13 looking.
Batters have to put the ball in play to get on base versus Mitchell MacKeith as the lefty doesn't allow many free passes. MacKeith has only surrendered four walks in 27 innings. The lefty ranks third in the Big South and 67th in the country with 1.33 walks allowed per nine innings.
Radford is 7-6 versus Campbell, since the Camels rejoined the conference during the 2011-12 athletic season.

SCOUTING CAMPBELL

Record: 14-12
Campbell is coming off an 8-2 loss to UNC Greensboro on Wednesday. A five-run fifth inning by the Spartans was enough for the win. The Camels only managed four hits as Junior Snow picked up the lone RBI on a groundout in the bottom of the fifth.
The Camels possess a .290 team batting average, while sporting a roster with six players with a .300-plus average.
As a team, Campbell has pumped out 257 hits and 157 RBIs. Ranking second in the Big South in hits and third in RBI.
Matt Parrish leads the way with a .395 average and 26 RBIs. Parrish ranks fourth in the conference in average.
Anthony Lopez follows with a .360 average, while leading the squad with 36 hits and 26 runs.
Providing another spark in the Camels offense, Brian Taylor has compiled 12 doubles and 24 RBI. The 12 doubles are the second most in the Big South.
With eight players earning a start on the bump, Grant Yost and Nick Thayer have shined the brightest. Yost holds a 2.78 ERA with 11 earned runs in 35.2 innings pitched. Thayer has compiled a 4-2 record, striking out 7.85 batters per nine innings.
Erik Dowse has arguably been the best pitcher in the Big South and one of the best in the country to start the season. The right-hander has appeared in 12 contests, tossing 26.1 innings. In the 26.1 innings, Dowse has yet to allow a single run, while punching out 31 batters along the way. Dowse is tied for first in the country with a 0.00 ERA.
Campbell is 4-3 away from Jim Perry Stadium with opponents outscoring the Camels 54-49.

UP NEXT

Radford continues its homestand on April 5 in a non-conference Commonwealth clash with VMI.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at RU Baseball Stadium.
The Highlanders swept the 2015 series.
Radford leads the all-time series 28-20-1.

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